by John Miller, for Business Central

MOUNT UNION – FCI USA, Inc. is slicing half of its workforce at its Mount Union manufacturing facility in a decisive restructuring initiative that will take those positions across the Pacific Ocean and reinstall them in China, the world’s fastest growing economy.

Company spokesman Bob Bewley confirmed in a telephone interview.

“Unfortunately we’re going to have to cut back about 150 jobs,” Bewley said. “We’re moving mainly to stay competitive by moving our product lines to our customer base,” Bewley said.

The company’s primary customer base is in and around China, with the Asia-Pacific region home to rising demand for electronic goods. FCI manufactures electronic connectors for the consumer data, telecom and medical industries, according to Bewley, including connectors for TVs and DVD players made by electronic giants like Sony and Panasonic, both based out of Japan.

An electronic connector is anything that connects an electronic device to a power source, Bewley said. Some examples he cited were connected circuit boards in a computer or a cell phone charge.

In 1998, FCI acquired Berg Electronics, which owned and operated the Huntingdon plant, according to Bewley. He said the Huntingdon county plant has been in operation since 1996 and will continue to remain open despite the move.

FCI USA company headquarters is located outside of Harrisburg in Etters, Pa. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of FCI Inc., a French company with operations in 30 countries and 14,200 employees. FCI Inc. had more than $1.5 billion in sales in 2007.