By Steve Hart
The Press Democrat

More than 30 people will lose their jobs when Translite Sonoma relocates to Shelby, N.C.

Translite's owner, Genlyte Group, decided to shift production to North Carolina after the Louisville, Ky., company acquired the Shelby plant in a 2006 merger, according to Genlyte spokesman Raymond Zaccagnini.

The lease on Translite's facility in Sonoma had expired, and there was space for the business in North Carolina, he said.

Genlyte itself was acquired in January by Dutch electronics conglomerate Royal Philips Electronics. But Translite's move wasn't related to the deal with Philips, Zaccagnini said.

Several Translite Sonoma employees were offered jobs in North Carolina, but only one accepted, he said.

Officials at the Sonoma company didn't return calls seeking comment.

Translite Sonoma makes low-voltage lighting fixtures used by architects, builders and interior designers for residential and commercial projects. Its products include cable and track lighting systems and decorative architectural glass lighting.

Founded in 1988, the business was called Sonoma Lighting Ltd. before it merged with San Carlos-based Translite Systems in early 2000. Sonoma Lighting specialized in hand-blown glass lighting fixtures.

The merged business, Translite Sonoma, was acquired in late 2000 by Genlyte for $6.4 million.

Hand-blown glass is no longer made at the Sonoma business, but workers do assembly, service and order processing at the facility, Zaccagnini said.

The move should be completed by the end of the month, he said.

You can reach Staff Writer Steve Hart at 521-5205 or [email protected].