Voltarc Technologies has had its roots in the sign market since 1927. A young man named Miles Pennybacker had dreams of owning his own business. The Claude Neon Co. had a monopoly in the neon industry until Miles Pennybacker developed a unique electrode which kept its popularity for 50 years.

From left to right:  Vinnie Mehta, Miles Pennybacker and Jim Schoke

This allowed Pennybacker's entrance to the sign products industry. His V-Cone electrode took the then Voltarc Tubes from a sign shop to a world-wide manufacturer.

After WWII, Voltarc Tubes really took off. Miles moved the business to Norwalk, CT. Miles had a feel for the cold cathode lamp market, and added it to his flourishing sign business. Voltarc stayed in Norwalk until 1965 when Miles moved it to Fairfield, CT.

Several years later, Pennybacker sold his business to a group called SchoFam, which was owned and operated by James Schoke and his family. Jim had great business sense, and he expanded Voltarc over the years by adding new product lines. Voltarc soon outgrew its building, and had to open three more buildings over the course of the next twenty years. Its name was change to Voltarc Technologies, Inc.

In 1989, Voltarc was bought by a partnership lead by Vinnie Mehta.   Vinnie's group had a vision of a great company. Within the years Vinnie owned Voltarc, it seemed it would burst its seams. The crowning achievement was to relocate from the multiple buildings in Fairfield, and put Voltarc together again under one roof in Waterbury, Connecticut.

Today, Voltarc stands as a world leader in the sign industry. It has also made its niche in the UV Curing, Specialty Lamp, Miniature Fluorescent, Tanning, Cold Cathode, Graphic Arts, Aerospace Lighting and Wiring Device Business.

In 2001 Mr. Mehta relocated Aristo Grid, formerly of Long Island,
to the Waterbury site. Aristo Grid has a strong position in the miniature specialty lamp business. The combination of Aristo Grid and Voltarc expands the company's specialty lamp potential even further.

The Voltarc name in the market place has always been synonymous with quality. This quality is primarily due to a strong work force of dedicated employees, whose work ethic is above reproach. Voltarc is dedicated to continue to grow in its markets, and to be a leader in the lamp industry.