Furukawa Electric Group opens comms and fibre plant in Mexico

News and Business

Mexicali plant will produce solutions for communications sector.

Furukawa Electric LatAm, a company of the Furukawa Electric Group, in December 2017, opened a new manufacturing facility in Mexico focused on the production of solutions for the communications market. Located in Mexicali, capital of the state of Baja California, the new plant covers 6,000 square meters with two operating units – one for the production of fibre optic cables and the other for connectorising and assembling optical equipment, cordages and accessories.

The first phase of operations, which represents an investment of USD 4.5 million, will concentrate on producing fibre optic cables and cordages for optical fibre access. During its first year, the new Furukawa Electric plant is expected to generate 150 direct and 30 indirect jobs.

“With this new unit, Furukawa Electric Group plans to consolidate its leadership role in the manufacture and sale of optical products and solutions for telecommunication networks infrastructure,” said Foad Shaikhzadeh, president of Furukawa Electric LatAm and senior corporate vice-president of Furukawa Electric Group.

According to Shaikhzadeh, indoor and outdoor network infrastructure solutions is one of the broad business areas of Furukawa Electric Group, and includes products and equipment for both fiber optic access networks (FTTx environments) and for the application of the Internet of Things (IOT).

Shaikhzadeh stated, “The new Mexicali plant offers both geographic and logistical advantages that support our goal of supplying the American market. In addition, with its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, the location offers excellent exportation capabilities to other continents. The facility also offers ready access to technical laboratories and a qualified workforce.”

Located close to the USA, the plant will also allow Furukawa Electric Group to rapidly meet its clients’ needs through its OFS subsidiary, a leader in the American optical fibre and fibre optic cable market. This approach is expected to complement the value-added services offered by OFS.

Meeting demands
To meet the demands of the communications market segment, Furukawa Electric Group has already established production units in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia (serving the Andean Countries) and the United States. Since 1997, the group has also operated another company in Mexicali, namely Furukawa Automotive Mexico, for the automotive market. Shaikhzadeh commented, “The opening of our second Mexicali facility reinforces our investment in the economic, social and technological development of the region.”

For more information, visit www.furukawalatam.com