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Decatur Electronics operations moving to Phoenix; 43 jobs affectedDECATUR, Jan 07, 2011 (Herald & Review - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Decatur Electronics Inc. announced plans Thursday to relocate its manufacturing facility from Decatur to Phoenix, Ariz. The move for one of the nation's oldest manufacturers of public safety products will begin today and be implemented over the next 90 days. Decatur Electronics, a business founded in 1955 that employs 43 people in Decatur, is part of the Soncell North America network of companies. It specializes in making radar equipment for police departments. Employees affected by the relocation will be given assistance with the transition process, said Tim Roberts, customer service manager. Assistance will include resume writing and support, interview coaching and training and referral services. Roberts said they will not be packing up overnight. "That's not the intention whatsoever," Roberts said. "Decatur employees are being taken care of. The plant is not just shutting off today." The company said there will be no interruption in services or deliveries of Decatur Electronics products. "The move from Decatur to Phoenix will be seamless to our customers," Soncell CEO Brian Brown said. The operation is moving to a newly purchased 50,000-square-foot facility adjacent to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, which currently houses another Soncell division, Emergency Products-AEP. All of the company's facilities are being reviewed as it consolidates locations, Roberts said. "Everything is being reviewed in an attempt to make the best of the economic situation we're in," Roberts said. The relocation is expected to improve supply, manufacturing and distribution efficiency, facilitate growth and position Soncell to fulfill growing international demand. It will offer newly developed products including radar, in-car video, trailer displays and message boards, in addition to enhanced license plate recognition units. Soncell has its headquarters and administrative offices in San Diego. It also operates in Salem, Ore., and Boulder, Colo. The move is part of a strategy by Soncell and parent company Bowmer and Kirkland, the largest British privately owned construction firm. It acquired Decatur Electronics in 2009 when Soncell was formed. Bob Sanner had been the owner when the sale was made. Sanner's family had owned Decatur Electronics for two decades prior to that. Decatur Electronics was seen as a small company, compared to its rivals until it was bought. [email protected] 421-7972 To see more of Herald & Review, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.herald-review.com Copyright (c) 2011, Herald & Review, Decatur, Ill. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. |