Hauser Industries Manufacturing LED Retrofit Case Study
A Manufacturing Lighting Upgrade Built on Visibility, Cleanability, and Long-Term Value.
Hauser Industries (Hauser Site Furniture) is a long-established manufacturing business operating in a demanding metal-shop environment. When the company evaluated a facility-wide lighting upgrade, the priorities were clear: reduce energy use, improve visibility on the plant floor, and invest in a solution that would hold up in a dusty, high-activity production space. Think Green Solutions delivered a turnkey LED program that made an immediate, noticeable difference for operations, quality control, employees, and customer tours.
The Challenge
Hauser needed better lighting performance across production areas to support daily work and inspection. As a metal shop with grinding and welding, maintaining consistent light quality and keeping fixtures clean over time was a constant challenge.
As a Canadian manufacturer balancing growth and costs, Hauser is, in the words of Eric Gowland, VP of Operations, “always looking at cost reduction opportunities and ways to improve our manufacturing operation.” Lighting was not on that list until one of Hauser's operations strategy team brought forward Think Green's proposal, showing how it could save money and improve operations, quality and morale.
Watch the Hauser Industries LED Upgrade
The Solution
Think Green Solutions developed a new lighting program for the facility and managed execution end-to-end, including rebate administration. As the retrofit rolled out section by section, leadership saw the impact immediately and expanded the scope, choosing to replace even recently installed LED fixtures to standardize on the Think Green system.
A key differentiator was fixture design: Hauser selected fully enclosed, encapsulated fixtures that are better suited to dusty manufacturing environments and easier to keep clean over time.
Results
The plant floor before and after the retrofit shows the change in light level and colour across the production area.
Don Pickett, Director of Operations, says the payback was expected to be around 4 years, and Hauser anticipates it will be met and probably beaten.
A “night and day” difference on the plant floor
Owner Chris Hauser described the first completed section as “literally a difference between night and day,” with dramatically improved visibility for workers and a clear benefit to quality control.
Better working conditions and stronger facility pride
The upgraded lighting made the shop a more enjoyable place to work and improved the overall feel of a building that has been operating for decades. Employees noticed the difference, and leadership noted the improvement in day-to-day experience and pride in the workspace.
Improved customer tours and product presentation
With brighter, more consistent light, Hauser can better showcase handcrafted production during walkthroughs, helping customers see workmanship and process more clearly.
Rebate support that made the project easier to justify
Think Green Solutions secured an instant rebate of $48,000 and handled the process from start to finish, so Hauser did not have to manage applications or paperwork internally.
A Major Impact on Our Bottom Line
Client Testimonial
As a third generation Canadian-owned and operated manufacturer, we'd like to thank Think Green Solutions for the Save on Energy program and the instant rebate. It'll have a major impact on our bottom line and allow us to reinvest in our business and help grow it, keep it moving forward. If I was talking to another manufacturer, I would definitely recommend Think Green Solutions for sure.
Owner, Hauser Industries
Conclusion
Think Green Solutions delivered a lighting upgrade that improved visibility, efficiency, and long-term performance across Hauser’s facility while simplifying the entire process through turnkey execution and rebate management. The result is a brighter, cleaner, and more productive manufacturing environment that supports daily operations, enhances quality control, and helps showcase the craftsmanship behind Hauser Industries’ work.
Think Green Solutions has completed over $75M in retrofit projects and delivered over $15M in incentives in Canada, and its longest-running projects are more than 16 years old with a failure rate under 5%. To find out what an upgrade could save at your facility, book a free lighting energy audit, read about LED lighting rebates in Ontario or explore our LED retrofit projects and solutions.
