Sign on the front door of Lumax Lighting informing employees of its permanent closing effective Monday. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

A longtime Altoona manufacturer has closed its doors.

“Effective Aug. 28, Lumax Lighting will close all operations on a permanent basis. Final paychecks will be issued in the normal payroll schedule for those employees affected,” states a note posted on the door of the plant at 301 Chestnut Ave.

The note also directs employees who have personal belongings in the plant to set up an appointment to retrieve those items.

Lumax was founded by Donald E. Snyder, who died unexpectedly Aug. 2 at age 90.

Since its inception in 1976, Lumax has manufactured a complete line of commercial, industrial and institutional lighting products.

Area officials were caught off guard by the development.

“This news is a complete shock. The company was in a strong market position as far as ABCD and the chamber were aware so we both are surprised by the sudden closure,” said Steve McKnight, president/CEO of the Altoona Blair County Development Corp.

The Blair County CareerLink and Rapid Response workforce team has been notified and will be preparing an approach for the employees impacted, McKnight said.

Joe Hurd, president/CEO of the Blair County Chamber of Commerce, said the company was a great employer.

“It certainly has caught everybody here off guard,” Hurd said. “We had no inkling it would happen and why it would happen. It certainly is concerning.”

Lumax has been a longtime employer in the community with a reputation for outstanding quality and service, Hurd said, noting Lumax was a longtime member of the Blair County Chamber.

Gwen Fisher, site administrator for Blair and Bedford counties CareerLink, said there are a “number of ways that the state can try to lessen the hardships for employees and the business itself. In the case of Lumax, our state Rapid Response team will try to connect with the management team and affected workers to put together an information session.”

All Lumax workers should immediately file for unemployment benefits, Fisher said.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.