Family-owned business opens headquarters in Warren

A family-owned business is lighting up Warren with the grand opening of its new headquarters.

Twist Brite, founded by inventor and 4th generation contractor John McDonald, has developed an LED dimmable light bulb with features that go far beyond your average bulb.

"You can dim it down to two watts, all the way up to 12 watts," McDonald said. "I say righty, brighty, lefty, less lighty. Instead of the dimmer switch being built in the wall or a product that's built, actually in the light bulb."

McDonald first conceived the idea about 11 months ago on a napkin.

Monday, he cut the ribbon on his new headquarters inside the Huntington Bank Building in Warren.

"A multi-billion dollar company, that's my vision," McDonald said. "I've been building things my whole life, and I found an interest in developing products and put a few products on the market over time and I always try to do things that kind of help people, protect them and make sure they're secure with the things that I try to create for them. I think that a light bulb, you know for disasters, would be something that would help."

McDonald says the bulbs are 95% more efficient than incadescent bulbs.

"It's LED and being it goes all the way down to two watts, I don't think there's any bulb that's built to do that," McDonald said. "So, it's pretty much the lowest wattage that you can get on the market. And the watts is LED, so that's more energy efficient."

The first batch of bulbs have been manufactured and are available at Andrews Shopping Center Hardware store in Howland.

McDonald is working on a second bulb, called the LED emergency bulb that has a built in battery.

"So, when the electric's out, you switch it to battery and it charges while you're using it," McDonald said. "So, when it's needed, it's there, and you turn it on and turn it off as you need it. So, if you want it on when you're at night, you can turn it on, you can turn it off, you have control of it."

That battery will provide light for up to 24 hours and recharges while in use and connected to a power source. Those bulbs are ready for mold production which McDonald says will take about three months to perfect.

McDonald is currently manufacturing in China, but would eventually like to bring it to Warren. He says they are bulbs that will last and people should feel safe using them. 

"The batteries last 10 years, and the bulb was built to last," McDonald said. "We built with quality. I wasn't worried about some, you know, something cheap. We try to build something that'll last, that you get your money's worth over over time, and it'll save you on energy, and you save more money."

A bright idea that's become a shining example of innovation and entrepreneurship.