WATERBURY, Conn (AP/WCBS 880)  -- A Waterbury company that makes lighting products has begun hiring back its furloughed workers after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
   
The president of Voltarc Technologies Inc. says the company has hired back 21 employees over the past week and is expecting to hire another 20 or so this week.

WCBS Reporter Fran Schneidau spoke with Joseph Laudano, President of Voltarc Technologies about rehiring their workers.

"I think they're very happy that the opportunity was there to come back and work at Voltarc. Many of the people who've been at Voltarc have been here for a long time," said Laudano
   
Laudano says the company will keep bringing back additional workers at a slower pace over the next several weeks.
   
Voltarc makes specialty bulbs and lighting products for the aviation, sign, ultraviolet and tanning industries.
   
The company had about 150 employees, but began laying off workers in late September [Rep-Am.com] and early October, ultimately trimming its work force to about 75 people by mid-October.