Document text
http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Blogs Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Multimedia Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Road Cams Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend November 7, 2006 A box of sensors to measure airborne particles is poised for assembly at Lighthouse Worldwide Solutions. (Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell) Expanding their scope West Medford location helps Lighthouse Worldwide's particle-count business grow By greg stiles Mail Tribune When Lighthouse Worldwide Solutions began manufacturing particle counters in west Medford during spring 2003, disk, semi-conductor and electronics companies were its chief marketing targets. Asian manufacturers were the Milpitas, Calif.-based company's primary geographical sphere. Since then, Lighthouse has expanded its scope beyond the tech world into the pharmaceutical domain. The privately held company shies away from talking about its revenue figures, but Vince Mastropietro, vice president of operations, said Lighthouse has seen steady 35 to 40 percent growth. Lighthouse Worldwide produces a wide spectrum of air particle counters and a range of liquid particle count instruments that enable clients to monitor their production processes in real time as well as examine select samples. Mastropietro said the liquid particle counter was introduced about six months ago. Advertisement "Now we're able to expand our market presence," he said. Before opening the plant in Medford, Lighthouse Worldwide relied on third-party contract manufacturers to produce much of its equipment. "We were the system integrator and software provider prior to that," said spokesman Demi Desoto. The company has been in the hard-disk-drive and semi-conductor sector since the 1980s. "Our products improve the yield of semiconductor companies and our equipment maintains uptime instead," Desoto said. "Instead of shutting down to find the contamination, they can keep going. If a Western Digital or Micron shuts down for a day, that's millions of dollars." More recently it began selling products to the $10 billion indoor air-quality industry, companies that provide heating ventilation and air-conditioning systems and mold remediation. When the environmental issue of "sick buildings" is raised, that usually means opportunities for Lighthouse. "Since 9/11 with all the interest in anthrax and other biocontaminates, we've been involved in that market, too," Desoto said. What may eventually lead to plant expansion is the move into the pharmaceutical industry. Lighthouse has been working with Facility Monitoring Systems of Malvern, Worcestershire, in the United Kingdom in developing software to link to its system. Lighthouse now houses satellite sales and service offices in Tillamook and in Raleigh, N.C., and anticipates having a presence in Boston. Since opening up shop on Disk Drive, Lighthouse has moved accounting and project management staff here, while extending sales, service and testing capabilities. "Our research and development is still done in California, but the costs here versus the Silicon Valley make it a no-brainer," Desoto said. The company currently employs about 50 in the Medford plant. Mastropietro won't say when a second shift will appear, but he said there are plenty of efficiencies to institute before needing more space. "We're patient when we hire," he said. "We won't just jump on any warm body. Sometimes it takes four to six weeks to find the right candidate." He said finding qualified precision instrument workers can be hard. "We're not Portland, Seattle or the Bay Area," Mastropietro said. "I clearly believe that if people want to see Southern Oregon as a good regional area for business growth, they'll have to develop a well-trained force to sustain that growth." Last month, Lighthouse achieved a milestone when it was awarded ISO 9001:2000 status, granted by Underwriters Laboratory. It's significant, especially to European clients who go to great lengths to assure green components enter its marketplace. "It certainly allows us to deal with a much broader set of pharmaceutical customers," Mastropietro said. "We do sell to the pharmaceutical industry now. But ISO is the first step toward more and more significant companies opening the door. That also implies that we have product that satisfies their needs." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4463 or e-mail [email protected] . Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Trunks, Footlocker Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Casinos Canada Cord Blood Banking Discount Hotel Reservations Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Men's Clothing Debt Help New Hampshire Primary