InteSys Technologies Inc. by year's end plans to relocate most of its Gilbert, Ariz., manufacturing operations to Fort Worth, Texas, and the Apodaca district near Monterrey, Mexico.
About 65 percent of the Gilbert site's output is in cellular telephone components, with the remainder in automotive and specialty applications. Key InteSys customers in the cell phone market include Nokia Oyj and Motorola Inc.
``Our strategy is to be a global supplier,'' Michael Smith, InteSys vice president and general manager, said by telephone. ``Those having success in the cell phone market have located in close proximity to their customers' major manufacturing locations.''
Moving the injection molding, secondary processes and assembly work will affect 350-380 Gilbert employees, who were informed of the decision Feb. 12. InteSys has 70 injection molding presses, with clamping forces of 50-500 tons, in Gilbert.
InteSys will maintain its administrative headquarters, sales, engineering, tooling and various support functions employing 100-110 in Gilbert. Several presses may remain in Gilbert for prototype work.
InteSys opened the Fort Worth site in July 2001 and acquired the Apodaca facility from Tri-Quest SA de CV in September.
InteSys employed 1,156 as of Jan. 1 and also has manufacturing operations in Costa Mesa, Calif.; Empalme, Mexico; Manaus and Sao Paulo, Brazil; and Donegal, Ireland.
InteSys, a unit of Providence, R.I.-based Textron Inc., has a long-term lease on 245,000 square feet in Gilbert and is exploring options such as subletting.
Textron has annual sales of about $11 billion.
