(Updated July 24, 2012, with photos) July 23, 2012 – Underwriters Laboratories (UL) recently celebrated the opening of the 38,000-sf Photometric Testing & Technology Center in Allentown, Pa., which will serve as a testing and certification hub for all of North America. The lab conducts testing of lighting products to various global energy efficiency programs, such as Energy Star, Natural Resources Canada and Zhaga.

“This new facility will ultimately help industry discover new efficiencies for developing and manufacturing lighting products,” said Todd Straka, UL’s business development director for lighting. “The expanded testing capabilities and potential for onsite training programs provides manufacturers with comprehensive solutions to help them stay competitive and be better prepared to address the various requirements of Energy-Efficiency Verification Programs, ultimately offering higher-quality lighting products to the market which will aid in accelerating the adoption of solid-state lighting.”

The expanded capacity enhances UL’s testing services for the entire supply chain in the lighting industry, says UL, from distributors of electrical material, to manufacturers, retailers, architects and designers. Not only will the ISO/IEC 17025-accredited lab feature the fastest turn-around times in the industry for verifying product performance, boasts UL, it will also offer expanded photometric testing with goniophotometers and integrating spheres and allow customers to leverage onsite training facilities.

“Our goal is to offer industry-leading capacity which will serve to provide the fastest turnaround time for testing, ultimately helping our customers develop technologically advanced products and get their products to market faster, without sacrificing safety, quality and performance,” said Alberto Uggetti, UL’s vice-president and general manager for Global Lighting. “We understand how the demands for LED technology and energy efficiency are transforming the lighting industry, and we believe this spectacular facility will provide a competitive advantage for our customers around the world.”

Photos by Timothy Miller Photography, courtesy UL.