Non-Profit Blind Industries and Services of Maryland and Lumi Trak, Inc. Team Up On Energy Saving LED Project

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Blind Industries and Services of Maryland

Apr 11, 2013, 12:28 ET

BALTIMORE, Md., April 11, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM), a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit company headquartered in Baltimore that employs and trains blind people of all ages, recently partnered with Shrewsbury, PA based Lumi Trak, Inc., a successful company known throughout Maryland and 11 other states for its revolutionary overhead highway "trak-lighting" system. The Lumi Trak system allows the sign lights to be changed and fixed without shutting down lanes of traffic.

Lumi Trak contracted with BISM to assemble their LED light kits that are now used across the state of Maryland on the overhead highway signs. BISM Production Supervisor Michael Peery created a workstation that allowed a blind employee to rivet the LED light modules to its aluminum base. The innovative design of the workstation made it to so that the entire assembly process could be completed by a blind employee.

"Blind Industries and Services of Maryland and Lumi Trak are working together to create jobs for blind people that will produce products for our customers that reduce costs, lower ongoing utility expenses, and exceed our customers' requirements and expectations," said BISM President Fred Puente.

BISM Product Development Manager Nick Stchur and Lumi Trak President George Townsend first crossed paths in business 20 years ago. Twenty months ago, Stchur read an article about Lumi Trak in a local newspaper which stated that the company was looking to hire more employees to help with retrofitting their Lumi Trak highway lights with brighter, energy-saving LED lights.

"Lumi Trak's goal and mission is safety and by improving the lighting on highway signs and dark areas, such as parking lots and building entrances, we make it safer for the people that use them," said Townsend.

Stchur contacted Townsend and invited him to tour BISM's manufacturing and training facility in Baltimore. The pair soon developed a business partnership between BISM and Lumi Trak that has potential long-term benefits for both companies.

The partnership has expanded to include LED outdoor building and parking lot lights that reduce energy consumption by 60-80% as well as indoor LED replacements for the more energy consuming florescent lights. BISM and Lumi Trak are also expanding into other states that are interested in converting to LED highway lights.

"We are honored to have the opportunity to work with BISM to help create employment openings and contribute to the blind and visually impaired community," Townsend said.

About Blind Industries and Services of Maryland

Established by the Maryland General Assembly in 1908, BISM offers innovative life skills training programs and services free of charge for blind and visually impaired Marylanders of all ages. BISM also provides diverse employment opportunities for over 450 associates, the majority of whom are blind, and manufactures more than 150 products at our locations in Baltimore, Cumberland, Salisbury, and Raleigh (NC). To learn more about Blind Industries and Services of Maryland, visit www.bism.org.

Contact: Rob Ennamorato
Communications Specialist
410-737-2615
[email protected]

SOURCE Blind Industries and Services of Maryland