NC LED-maker Cree To Add 575 Jobs In 3 Years

GARY D. ROBERTSON

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Cree Inc., a maker of energy-efficient lighting elements used for mobile phones and stadium exteriors at the Beijing Olympics, is expanding its North Carolina operations and plans to add 575 jobs in the next three years.

Durham-based Cree said Thursday it expects to add 275 jobs this year as it expands production of light-emitting diode units at its Durham plant. The company plans to add another 300 jobs by the end of 2012.

Cree is also manufacturing and assembling LED lighting products with electronic manufacturer Flextronics in Charlotte.

At an event announcing the jobs boost, CEO Chuck Swoboda and Gov. Beverly Perdue said green technologies like efficient lighting products have great growth potential.

"It's a real opportunity for our country and our state," Swoboda said. "The best energy is the energy we never use."

Cree has about 3,200 full-time workers. The company reported in August that it was adding workers as it increased production at plants in Durham and Huizhou, China. Swoboda said the company would expand jobs in China, but he did not specify hiring plans for operations that sell primarily into growing Asian markets.