TriQuest Precision Plastics SA de CV has reduced employment, but powerhouse Nypro Inc.'s management and minority ownership of the Zapopan plant may brighten the future.
Currency woes relating to the peso, additional U.S. trade duties and the post-Sept. 11 slowdown were among factors forcing TriQuest to slim down and absorb heavy severance expenses. The site employs 400-450, down from about 900 in mid-2001.
Sales for 2001, while not disclosed, were flat compared with 2000, and certain programs ended. Telecommunications was hit hard.
TriQuest said it maintains decent machine utilization. The modern, 120,000-square-foot molding area has 61 presses with clamping forces of 50-850 tons. There are separate assembly and painting areas.
During a reporter's recent tour of the plant, employees were assembling money-handling mechanisms for an electronics business and doing other work for a major computer manufacturer.
``TriQuest is a good fit for Nypro in central Mexico,'' said global sourcing manager Adam Parker. Nypro has ``always wanted to get farther south into Mexico.''