Verified Nov 2026
Lighting
·
Durham, North Carolina
·
Since 1987
Cree is a lighting company headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, that was founded in 1987 and reports between 1,000 and 5,000 employees with an estimated annual revenue of $100 to $250 million. The company is privately held and serves the automotive, electric vehicle, electronics, medical, plumbing hardware, and renewable energy industries. Its LED lighting products include fixtures, lamps, and smart lighting offerings, and a recent development reported by inside.lighting in May 2026 described the sale of Cree Lighting assets at auction to two previously unidentified LLCs.
Cree at a glance
Revenue
$100-250M
Est. band
Employees
1,000-5,000
Founded
1987
Headquarters
Durham, North Carolina
Certifications
ISO 9001
Import activity
2885
Industries
Automotive
Electric Vehicles
Electronics
Medical
Plumbing & Hardware
Renewable Energy
Sourcing and import activity
From US customs bill-of-lading records
US sea imports
2885
Named foreign suppliers
50
Top origins
Hong Kong S.A.R. · China · Taiwan · South Korea
Shared foreign counterparties do not establish that these companies buy from Cree.
What this tells a buyer
No customs or trade shipment records were found for this company in the available data.
The company holds ISO 9001 certification and lists LED lighting, fixtures, lamps, and smart lighting products among its offerings.
The company's estimated size band is 1,000 to 5,000 employees, and it is not publicly traded.
Source: US customs bill-of-lading records and public filings · Last verified Nov 05, 2026
STABILITY SIGNALS
Established & active
39 years in operation (founded 1987).
Holds ISO 9001 certification(s) per public sources.
Overview
Cree is a lighting company headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, that was founded in 1987 and reports between 1,000 and 5,000 employees with an estimated annual revenue of $100 to $250 million. The company is privately held and serves the automotive, electric vehicle, electronics, medical, plumbing hardware, and renewable energy industries. Its LED lighting products include fixtures, lamps, and smart lighting offerings, and a recent development reported by inside.lighting in May 2026 described the sale of Cree Lighting assets at auction to two previously unidentified LLCs.
At a glance
Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
Founded | 1987 |
Headquarters | Durham, North Carolina |
Employees | 1,000-5,000 |
Revenue | $100-250M (estimated) |
Primary capability | Lighting |
Certifications | ISO 9001 |
What Cree makes
The company holds ISO 9001 certification and lists LED lighting, fixtures, lamps, and smart lighting products among its offerings.
Products and capabilities described on the company's own site include Lighting, LED, Emissions, Aluminum, Steel, Coating, Assembly (source: creelighting.com).
Certifications
Cree is associated with the following certifications in public sources. Confirm the certified scope for the specific plant producing your part:
ISO 9001 — creelighting.com
Trade and customs footprint
No customs or trade shipment records were found for this company in the available data. US customs bill-of-lading records list 2885 inbound shipments across 50 foreign suppliers, with top origins including Hong Kong S.A.R. · China · Taiwan · South Korea.
Latest developments
2026-10-23 — Integra Asset Solutions Announces 3-Day Online Auction of Assets from Cree Lighting in Wisconsin (advfn.com)
2026-09-22 — Cree Lighting Update: Phoenix Takes Former Cree Product Lines as Beta LED Goes Quiet - EdisonReport (edisonreport.com)
2026-09-17 — Phoenix Lighting Adds Former Cree Lighting Products to (globenewswire.com)
2026-05-21 — Cree Lighting Assets Sold at Auction to Two Unknown LLCs (inside.lighting)
2026-02-26 — Cree Lighting Announces Long-Term Strategic Manufacturing Agreement to Strengthen Capacity and Restore Delivery Performance - Cree Lighting (creelighting.com)
2025-11-11 — Cree Lighting Premium Lighting Collection Launches at Lowe’s with Mayi (creelightinghome.com)
Facilities
Cree is headquartered in Durham, North Carolina. Public sources also reference these locations:
Racine, Wisconsin — energy.gov
Company details
The company's estimated size band is 1,000 to 5,000 employees, and it is not publicly traded. Cree was founded in 1987, has an estimated 1,000-5,000 employees, and is headquartered in Durham, North Carolina. On the LightSource stability read it is rated "Established & active": 39 years in operation (founded 1987). Holds ISO 9001 certification(s) per public sources.
Frequently asked questions
What does Cree make?
Cree is a lighting company headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, that was founded in 1987 and reports between 1,000 and 5,000 employees with an estimated annual revenue of $100 to $250 million. The company is privately held and serves the automotive, electric vehicle, electronics, medical, plumbing hardware, and renewable energy industries. Its LED lighting products include fixtures, lamps, and smart lighting offerings, and a recent development reported by inside.lighting in May 2026 described the sale of Cree Lighting assets at auction to two previously unidentified LLCs.
Where is Cree headquartered?
Cree is headquartered in Durham, North Carolina (4600 Silicon Drive, Durham, North Carolina, 27703).
When was Cree founded?
Cree was founded in 1987.
How big is Cree?
Cree has an estimated 1,000-5,000 employees, with revenue in the $100-250M range (estimated).
What certifications does Cree hold?
Cree lists ISO 9001 on its website. Confirm the certified scope for the specific plant producing your part.
Does Cree import from overseas suppliers?
US customs bill-of-lading records show 2885 inbound shipments for Cree, with top origins including Hong Kong S.A.R. · China · Taiwan · South Korea.
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Last verified Nov 2026. Is this your company? Request a correction.
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