Monday, September 9, 2013

InFocus will make jumbo, touch-screen computers in Tigard

InFocus Corp. said this morning that it will manufacture new models of its jumbo-sized, touch-screen computers in Tigard instead of overseas.
The new manufacturing facility employs six now and InFocus said it’s in the process of expanding to 10 people. Prior models are still made in higher volumes in Asia, but the company — headquartered at a separate site near Tigard — said it didn’t make sense to produce the new, 70-inch version overseas given shipping costs on a specialty product.
The new Tigard facility will be InFocus’ first production facility in a decade. The company said it will add a service center to the facility in the near future.
InFocus was once the leader in Oregon’s cluster of electronic display companies, pioneering the market for digital projectors — which were initially made in Oregon. But larger brands such as Epson, NEC and Sony made the market more competitive and InFocus shifted production to China.
Sales continued to fall as competition increased, but InFocus remains a leader in the projector market. Revenues totaled $150 million in 2011, the last year for which the company reported sales.
InFocus introduced the $6,000, 55-inch Mondopad in 2011 as a collaboration device in conference rooms. Earlier this year it introduced a scaled back version called the Big Touch for $1,000 less.
The new Tigard facility will make an $11,000, 70-inch Mondopad and an equivalent Big Touch device. InFocus already employs about 50 at its Tigard headquarters.
Correction: An earlier version of this article reported that the manufacturing facility is in Beaverton. It’s actually just south of Beaverton, in the Tigard city limits.
From:NJYTOUCH

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