MELBOURNE, Fla. and
ROCHESTER, N.Y., Sept. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --
Highlights:
- Represents most advanced and fully integrated factory for
producing radios, secure encryption modules and related assured
communication products.
- Lowers costs and speeds delivery times to customers; encourages
innovation.
- Significant investment addresses current and emerging needs of
military and public safety customers around the world.
Harris Corporation (NYSE: HRS), an international communications
and information technology company, today officially opened the
world's most advanced manufacturing center for the production of
tactical radios, assured communication systems and related
products. The new 573,000 square-foot center near
Rochester, New York, was developed
specifically to increase the company's competitiveness and address
the changing requirements of military and public safety
communications.
At a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Jefferson Road Operations
Center, U.S. Representative Tom Reed
joined Harris senior management, employees and special guests to
celebrate the facility's official opening. About 1,100
employees work at the Center, which is located in Henrietta, a suburb of Rochester. The factory consolidates
several previously geographically dispersed production lines into a
single, integrated facility.
"The opening of this new factory represents a significant
investment by Harris in the Rochester area and the global market for
assured tactical and public safety communications," said
Howard L. Lance, chairman, president
and CEO, Harris Corporation.
"It demonstrates our commitment to serve our customers by
delivering products to the field faster and more efficiently.
The new facility will provide cost savings and deliver a
platform to drive continued innovation and growth."
"Harris is the leading provider of assured communications
technology to military and public safety customers around the
world. To maintain that position, we need to be increasingly
competitive and innovative,'' said Dana
Mehnert, president, Harris RF Communications group.
"This new facility will be a key enabler in bringing products
to market more quickly and sharpen our focus on meeting the current
and emerging needs of a dynamic customer base. We'll leverage
this factory to deliver better, more innovative and more
cost-effective solutions to military and public safety
personnel."
Harris is using the factory to manufacture the world's most
advanced tactical communication products for military, public
safety and government agencies in the
United States and across the world. This includes the
Falcon III® multiband manpack and handheld tactical radios for
wideband networking on the battlefield, and the advanced Harris
Unity multiband public safety radio for police, fire and other
first responders. Unity is the leading public safety radio designed
and manufactured in the United
States.
The new manufacturing center is the result of an intensive total
renovation project that converted a former Xerox Corp. office
building into a production site in about 10 months. The
facility distributes work across adaptable "focus factories" in
support of the entire Harris RF product portfolio. These
focus factories create a unique in-line production operation that
integrates everything from parts delivery, assembly and testing
with packaging and shipping. Future plans call for
integration of a supplier village in which partners can locate
production within the Harris factory.
Approximately half of Harris RF Communications' local workforce
of 2,300 has relocated to the new center, with the balance of
employees remaining in the city of Rochester. "RF Communications was
founded here more than a half-century ago and has grown through the
hard work and commitment of our employees and the support of the
community,'' Mehnert said. "The opening of this facility
reaffirms our commitment to Rochester and Monroe
County and positions us for the future.''
"This ribbon-cutting demonstrates why we all believe in this
area," Congressman Reed commented. "Western New York can again become an
innovative leader in building a new high-tech economy. The
decision by Harris to expand here shows that we have the educated
workforce and geographical advantages that global companies are
looking for."
"In today's global economy, companies have the choice of doing
business anywhere in the world and Harris' decision to remain in
Monroe County speaks volumes about
our community's significant assets," said Monroe County Executive
Maggie Brooks. "Our economic
development team was instrumental in working with Harris to retain
1,100 manufacturing jobs for local residents. Our economy is
strengthened by Harris's significant investment in its new
Henrietta facility. We are
proud to partner with Harris Corporation in this effort and I'd
like to thank them for their continued commitment to Monroe County."
Harris RF Communications is the leading global supplier of
secure radio communications and embedded high-grade encryption
solutions for military, government and commercial organizations.
The company's Falcon® family of software-defined tactical
radio systems encompasses manpack, handheld and vehicular
applications. Falcon III is the next generation of radios
supporting the U.S. military's Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS)
requirements, as well as network-centric operations worldwide.
Harris RF Communications is also a leading supplier of
assured communications® systems and equipment for public
safety, utility and transportation markets — with products ranging
from the most advanced IP voice and data networks to portable and
mobile single- and multiband radios.
About Harris Corporation
Harris is an international communications and information
technology company serving government and commercial markets in
more than 150 countries. Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, the company has
approximately $6 billion of annual
revenue and more than 16,000 employees — including nearly 7,000
engineers and scientists. Harris is dedicated to developing
best-in-class assured communications® products, systems, and
services. Additional information about Harris Corporation is
available at www.harris.com.
SOURCE Harris Corporation