Light & Motion was founded in 1989 and has since been in Monterey, CA in a very cool building on Cannery Row. We might best know them for their very fine cycling lights, but they got actually started in the diving world.
They in fact still design, fabricate, test and sell diving lights and that is roughly half of their business. But the other half is still not all about cycling as these light work great for a variety of outdoor uses, including but not limited to climbing, caving, running and hiking. All of their products though are designed, assembled and tested in the USA. While at the 2012 Sea Otter Classic we had a chance to visit the facility in Monterey, CA and see what is going on within.
It was very interesting to experience the manufacturing and assembly process and we especially enjoyed the passionate friendly staff. They are very proud of the work they do, that it all takes places in the USA and they manage to do so with the environment in mind. The most surprising element of Light & Motion was the number of engineers - we counted 6 engineers among the staff of around 30 people.
But now let us show you what is going on at Light & Motion.
All images © Herbert Krabel / slowtwitch.com
What can we say other than location, location, location.
The view from the marketing loft across one of the production floors to the engineering department loft.
Along one of the walls within is a timeline of products dating back to 1989.
Max Mejia did not let the intruding photographer distract him from his work on a diving light.
Richard Vega is deep into the assembly of a diving light.
Urban 300 cycling lights are being handled here by Ofelia Zepeda and Luz Mondragon.
Some of the finished Urban 300 lights are seen here.
The Seca series of lights is not only good for cycling, but also all kinds of other outdoors sports and activities.
Up in the engineering department Greg Weisenfeld is working on a bracket.
Jarod Armer has been with the brand long enough to earn a window seat. But maybe as an underwater engineer he ought to see the water every day.
Engineer Doug Foss with the circuit board of a Urban 300.
These coins for a Light & Motion geocaching event were just finished in the machine shop when we came through.
Reflectors are machined here by Jose Garcia and Amanda Harper.
A CNC machine in action on some brackets.
A lineup of Urban lights ranging from 200s to 600s.
Head engineer Chris McCaslin usually is not found outside the Light & Motion building, but boy what a view it is.
Light & Motion lights are tested in this Sphere, but competitor lights can also be tested here.
The computer read out shows the actual lumen output of the light.
This little rascal is the mascot of Light & Motion.
Heidi Hall and Amy Mack Fabry up in the marketing loft.
