ADC Telecommunications Opens New $26 Million Manufacturing Plant in Shakopee, Minn
MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 19, 1998--ADC Telecommunications, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADCT), the Minneapolis-based manufacturer of equipment and software for telecommunications, cable television, broadcast, wireless and enterprise networks, has opened a $26 million, state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Shakopee, Minn. The new 284,000-square-foot facility houses ADC's Broadband Connectivity Group. Approximately 600 people are currently employed at this site; ADC expects to add 50 to 100 employees at this location this year.
Today, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Joanne Benson and Shakopee Vice Mayor Jane Dubois will join ADC Chairman, CEO and President William J. Cadogan, Broadband Connectivity Group President Lynn J. Davis, and other ADC representatives in a plant opening ceremony from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Business and community leaders will also attend.
"ADC Telecommunications' expansion is a great example of how one local company is responding to the growing need for a global communication and information technology infrastructure," said Lt. Gov. Benson. "We thank ADC for expanding in Minnesota, and we pledge support of an educated citizenry for our mutual success."
"This expansion not only represents ADC's commitment to the State of Minnesota, but also to our customers," said Cadogan. "This new facility provides our high-performance workforce with the equipment, processes, and technologies required to serve our customers' needs in today's extremely competitive telecommunications marketplace."
To keep each individual close to the products and the customer, every employee -- from product design and product management, to operations management and machine operators -- enters and exits through the shop floor. A ratio of one computer for every two employees enhances decision-making and self-management by individual employees.
"Each of our employees is responsible to and for their internal and external customers," said Davis. "Employees make decisions on all aspects of their work to ensure that it meets quality, cost and delivery expectations."
ADC's own internal manufacturing teams designed the plant's layout, and included a number of features to ensure maximum efficiency. In the molding area, for example, raw materials are fed through a pneumatic tube system from the plant's lower level directly where and when they are needed. The plant also has several departments that feature a third-shift "lights out" line, allowing parts to run during the night without on-site staff.
The State of Minnesota provided a $250,000 grant from the Minnesota Investment Fund, a program of the Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development, to help support ADC's expansion.
ADC's Broadband Connectivity Group designs, manufactures and markets broadband connectivity products for fiber-optic, twisted-pair copper, coaxial and wireless broadband, global networks. The division accounts for approximately 45 percent of ADC's sales.
ADC Telecommunications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADCT), designs, manufactures, markets and integrates communications hardware and software systems. These systems are used by global service providers such as Regional Bell Operating Companies, post, telephone and telegraph (PTT) organizations, and cable television operators to deliver communications services to their customers. The company also provides products used in enterprise networks for connection and access to the public network.
ADC has approximately 6,000 employees worldwide and is headquartered in Minneapolis. The company has manufacturing, sales or service offices in 17 countries around the world. Revenues for fiscal year 1997 were $1.164 billion. More information about ADC Telecommunications, Inc., and its business units, products and technologies is available at ADC's Web site, adc.com, or by calling 1-800-366-3891. |
