wiredinUSA May 2014

Regional realignment

More facilities for fiber Applied Optoelectronics Inc (AOI), a developer and supplier of fiber optic access network products, is to increase its manufacturing capacity in Taiwan with the move to new facilities. “Our facility expansion in Taiwan is consistent with the previously announced planned capital investment and manpower in order to support rising demand in our data center and FTTH markets,” said Dr Thompson Lin, AOI’s chairman and CEO. “We have simply outgrown our existing facility and we are pleased to have found a much larger facility that meets both our current and future needs. The facility more than triples our available floor space and is better suited for a manufacturing environment than our current space. …We plan to begin moving manufacturing operations, on a staged basis, to the new location in July, and expect to complete the move by Q1 of 2015.” AOI will invest around $5.8 million in improvements to the new facility for manufacturing and research and development efforts.

In line with regional realignment and management moves, Beta LaserMike’s Ethem Erdas, previously western USA district sales manager, will assume the north central eastern USA area. His new sales territory includes eastern Ohio, West Virginia, western New York, and western Pennsylvania. Mike Cooley will manage midwest USA, continuing to oversee the Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, and North and South Dakota regions and including northern Arkansas and northern Oklahoma. He will work closely with partner Concept Machine Tool and its metrology division to develop the plastic medical tube extrusion business in Minnesota. Brad Robillard is to assume the regional territory responsibilities for Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, and western Ohio. Given the business opportunities in this region and the focus required to best serve key customers, Mr Robillard brings an exemplary track record of success in the sales of Beta LaserMike’s measurement and controls solutions.

wiredInUSA - May 2014

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