WAUKEGAN, Ill. — AFX Inc. is proud to announce its 80th year of designing and manufacturing lighting fixtures for residential and commercial applications. Since the inception of fluorescent lighting technology in 1938, AFX has been promoting energy efficiency with its portfolio of products.
The family-run business was founded back in 1938 by William Rusnak, who operated a furniture store but recognized the energy-saving potential of fluorescent lamps and decided to establish (American Fluorescent) AFX as a premier manufacturer of fluorescent light fixtures.
Jerry Solomon joined American Fluorescent in 1940. In 1959, he became President and built up American Fluorescent’s share in the residential lighting fixtures market. Over the years, Solomon was instrumental in developing and introducing a decorative line of fluorescent fixtures, proving that fluorescents were not just for commercial and industrial applications, but could be used for energy savings in many areas of the home.
In 1973, Jerry’s son, Bill Solomon, joined American Fluorescent, and in 1982, he took over from his father as President and CEO, overseeing all operations. During his tenure, the company has greatly expanded its line to offer choices in Task, Utility, Decorative and Industrial lighting covering multiple markets. “At AFX we continually strive to bring relevant and innovative lighting solutions to our customers,” says Bill, “and to accomplish this we rely heavily on relationships with all our stakeholders including customers, employees, and supplier partners. These relationships are founded on trust and mutual respect and are the primary reason for our success and longevity.”
In 2012 the company changed its name from American Fluorescent to AFX, recognizing the impending adoption of LED technology. Most recently, the company has launched “Stonegate by AFX,” its custom, made-to-order decorative product line featuring product families by renowned designers from across the country. After seven decades, the company has touched every corner of the ever-changing lighting landscape. Today, their product portfolio includes solutions from indoor to outdoor and designer to functional—for commercial, hospitality, healthcare, and residential settings.
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