A buyer may find “GE Current” on an old submittal, “Columbia Lighting” on the fixture schedule and “Current” on the latest specification sheet.
That does not necessarily mean three different manufacturers.
Current’s commercial-lighting portfolio combines legacy GE operations with brands acquired from Hubbell Lighting. Public distributor records identify several Columbia CFP flat panels as Chinese-origin, but Current does not publish one universal manufacturing country for all current panel families.
The reliable answer must come from the exact SKU.
What Is Current Lighting?
Current Lighting is a commercial and industrial lighting company offering luminaires, lamps, controls and connected-lighting systems.
It began as a GE business. In 2019, General Electric sold Current to American Industrial Partners. The transaction allowed Current to continue using the GE brand under a licensing agreement.
Current subsequently acquired Hubbell’s commercial and industrial lighting business in 2022. This added brands such as:
- Columbia Lighting
- Prescolite
- Dual-Lite
- Litecontrol
- Kim Lighting
- Beacon Products
- NX Lighting Controls
Current is therefore a company and portfolio owner—not one individual flat-panel product family.
GE Current vs GE Lighting
These names are frequently confused in distributor databases.
| GE Current / Current Lighting | GE Lighting | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary market | Commercial and industrial lighting | Consumer and residential lighting |
| Typical products | Commercial fixtures, controls, outdoor and industrial lighting | Household lamps and smart-home lighting |
| Relationship with GE | Sold by GE in 2019; certain GE marks used under license | Consumer business was not part of the Current transaction |
| Relevant to commercial flat panels | Yes | Generally no |
| Does the GE name prove US origin? | No | No |
A historical GE logo should not be treated as a Made-in-USA declaration.
For a commercial flat-panel project, buyers should follow the Current or Columbia catalog number rather than use documentation from an unrelated GE consumer-lighting product.
Current Lighting vs Columbia Lighting
Current and Columbia Lighting are not direct competitors.
Current is the wider company and brand portfolio. Columbia Lighting is one of its commercial-fixture brands.
The CFP and Scaler flat panels are marketed as Columbia Lighting products within Current’s portfolio. Depending on the age of the document, a buyer may see:
- Hubbell
- Hubbell Lighting
- HLI Solutions
- Columbia Lighting
- Current Lighting
This reflects ownership and document history. It does not reveal the product’s manufacturing country.
Where Are Columbia CFP LED Panels Made?
Public product records identify multiple CFP models as Chinese-origin.
Examples include:
CFP24-4140CFP22-40/33/2835CFP22-40/33/2840CFP22-40/33/2840-ELL14
A distributor record for CFP22-40/33/2840-ELL14, for example, identifies China as the country of origin, subject to change.
The CFP family is an edge-lit commercial flat panel offered in 2×2 and 2×4 formats. Depending on the configuration, available features include selectable lumens, selectable CCT, 0–10V dimming, emergency battery options and multiple mounting methods.
Current’s more recent CFP specification continues to list CFP products, including newer selectable configurations. However, the specification sheet does not provide a universal country-of-origin statement.
The correct conclusion is:
Several documented Columbia CFP models are Chinese-origin, but buyers should not automatically assign China origin to every current Current or Columbia panel.
What About Current Scaler Flat Panels?
Scaler is a more specification-oriented Columbia Lighting edge-lit panel family.
The 2×2 Scaler series includes options for:
- Grid or surface mounting
- Multiple lumen packages
- Different color temperatures
- 0–10V dimming
- Emergency configurations
- Architectural and commercial applications
The current Scaler specification sheet explains its performance and configuration options but does not establish one public manufacturing country for every SKU.
Do not use the origin of an older CFP panel to approve a Scaler order. They are different product families and may use different factories, drivers and supply chains.
Edge-Lit vs Backlit LED Flat Panels
Current’s CFP and Scaler families are primarily edge-lit designs. Many factory-direct commercial panels, including Xmart’s panel program, use backlit construction.
The difference is not simply appearance.
| Procurement factor | Edge-lit panel | Backlit panel |
| Light path | LEDs direct light through a light-guide plate | LEDs project directly through the diffuser |
| Fixture profile | Usually very thin | Commonly slightly deeper |
| Critical optical component | PMMA or PS light-guide plate | Diffuser and LED-to-lens spacing |
| Typical aging concern | Light-guide yellowing or edge discoloration | Visible LED patterns if spacing is poorly designed |
| Thermal layout | LEDs concentrated around the edges | LEDs distributed across the rear surface |
| Shipping structure | Slim but may be sensitive to frame distortion | Often mechanically simpler and more rigid |
| Common B2B use | Specification projects requiring a slim profile | Distributor and retrofit programs prioritizing value and scalable production |
An edge-lit panel can perform well when it uses a stable PMMA light-guide plate, controlled LED binning and adequate edge thermal management.
A backlit panel can fail if the LED spacing, diffuser distance or current loading is poorly engineered.
Buyers should compare:
- Initial and aged uniformity
- Light-guide or diffuser material
- Operating temperature
- LED current
- Driver temperature
- Frame rigidity
- Lumen maintenance
- Yellowing test data
- Warranty failure assumptions
This comparison has more commercial value than comparing lumens alone.
Does Chinese Origin Affect the Landed Cost?
Potentially.
A China-origin Current or Columbia panel may be exposed to China-specific Section 301 tariffs, depending on its HTS classification and the trade measures in effect on the entry date.
The Current or GE brand does not change the customs calculation.
The importer should confirm:
- Legal country of origin
- HTS classification
- Normal customs duty
- Section 301 applicability
- Available exclusions
- Origin of emergency and control accessories
An emergency version can also contain a separately sourced battery pack or control component. Those additions should be included in the compliance review.
Can an Old Hubbell Submittal Be Used for a Current Order?
Not without verification.
An older fixture may retain a familiar catalog number after a corporate acquisition, but one or more of the following may have changed:
- Manufacturer of record
- Factory
- Country of origin
- Driver
- LED board
- DLC Product ID
- Emergency equipment
- Warranty administrator
- Product availability
A logo change alone does not invalidate the product. It does mean the buyer should request a current submittal rather than continue circulating a legacy PDF.
RFQ Template for Current or Columbia Panels
Use the following request:
Please confirm the complete Current or Columbia Lighting catalog number, current manufacturing country and legal country of origin for the quoted LED flat panel. Provide the latest specification sheet, product-label photo, carton origin marking, DLC Product ID and safety certification reference. Please identify any driver, emergency or control option that changes the origin, performance or certification. No factory, origin or component change is permitted without prior written notice.
This question is more effective than asking whether “GE panels are American-made.”
Comparing a Branded Panel With OEM Production
Current and Columbia Lighting are appropriate for buyers that value an established specification brand, electrical-distribution availability and a broad controls ecosystem.
A direct LED panel manufacturer serves a different requirement.
OEM buyers may need:
- Private-label ownership
- Custom wattage and CCT combinations
- Specified driver brands
- Packaging control
- Stable LED binning
- Factory audit access
- Batch inspection
- Country-of-origin documentation
- Component-change approval
- Direct MOQ and cost negotiation
Buyers researching alternative production locations can start with this comparison of commercial lighting and LED panel manufacturers in Vietnam.
Vietnam production can diversify a China-based supply chain, but it does not automatically guarantee zero tariffs. The factory must demonstrate real manufacturing activity and support its origin claim with production and export records.
Xmart provides OEM backlit LED panel manufacturing for distributors, importers and private-label lighting companies.
Programs can include:
- 1×4, 2×2 and 2×4 panels
- Selectable wattage and CCT
- 0–10V dimming
- Emergency and sensor options
- Custom labels and cartons
- Batch-level quality records
- Vietnam-origin production documentation
Buyers can review Xmart’s certification resources or request a panel specification and landed-cost comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Current Lighting owned by General Electric?
No. GE completed the sale of Current to American Industrial Partners in 2019. Current was permitted to continue using the GE brand under a licensing agreement.
Is Columbia Lighting the same as Current Lighting?
Columbia Lighting is a commercial-fixture brand within Current’s portfolio. It became part of Current following the acquisition of Hubbell’s commercial and industrial lighting business.
Are Current LED flat panels made in China?
Several Columbia CFP panel models have documented Chinese origin. That evidence should not be generalized to every Current or Columbia fixture.
Are Current CFP panels edge-lit or backlit?
The CFP family is an edge-lit flat-panel range. Buyers comparing it with a backlit panel should evaluate optical aging, construction, thermal design and installed performance.
Is an edge-lit panel better than a backlit panel?
Not universally. Edge-lit panels offer a slim profile, while backlit panels commonly provide a simpler optical structure and competitive cost. Component quality and engineering determine long-term performance.
Does the GE logo mean Made in USA?
No. The GE mark describes branding or licensing. It does not establish the manufacturing country of the fixture.
Final Answer
Where are GE Current LED flat panels manufactured?
Documented Columbia CFP models have been identified as Chinese-origin. Current’s broader panel portfolio does not have one publicly stated manufacturing country, and newer CFP or Scaler products must be checked individually.
The most common buyer mistake is following the corporate name:
GE → Current → Hubbell → Columbia
The correct path is shorter:
Complete SKU → current specification → country-of-origin declaration → shipment label
For tariff, compliance and sourcing decisions, the product record matters more than the history of the logo.
