Established in 1962 General Mfg., Inc. was the first company to offer portable fluorescent lighting to the automotive aftermarket. At the time, the company operated out of a small shop in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The light design of a cool operating fluorescent lamp and all electrical components inside the light fixture protected by a hard outer tube and soft end caps necessitated a brand name that indicated the newfound safety. The Saf-T-Lite® brand name quickly became recognized for its leadership in safety and durability.

After great initial success, the owners decided to sell. The company was then sold and changed hands several times until 1986 when the current owners purchased General Mfg. and all of its assets. At the time of purchase, the company had one employee and two light offerings; a 15-watt fluorescent light and an incandescent trouble light.

Today, General Mfg. has three facilities in Bluffton, Indiana, two for manufacturing and one for warehousing of raw materials. The product line has grown from a single fluorescent work light to hundreds of portable lighting, enclosure lighting, leak detection, and power supply products. Markets currently being served include Aircraft, Oil/Gas Refineries, Automotive Aftermarket, Heating, Plumbing & HVAC, Industrial, Hardware, Original Equipment Manufacturers, Government, Military, and numerous Specialty Markets.