ECD to shift some assembly operations from Auburn Hills Uni-Solar plant to Tijuana; 140 to lose jobs

August 12, 2010
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

As part of its overall cost reduction strategy, Energy Conversion Devices is realigning solar manufacturing capacity in its United Solar business among its existing facilities. Effective this fall, the company will shift certain final assembly operations for its laminates from the Auburn Hills, MI, campus to the Tijuana, Mexico, facility, while continuing to manufacture its proprietary flexible triple-junction amorphous-silicon thin-film solar cells at the Auburn Hills site.

“We are aggressively reducing our cost structure to operate more effectively in the highly competitive, global solar market, and, through these actions, we will better utilize our existing capacity in Tijuana, without any additional capital costs,” said Mark Morelli, ECD’s president/CEO.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

“Our Auburn Hills campus remains an essential part of our manufacturing footprint for our solar cells. In fact, we are now retrofitting one of our Auburn Hills manufacturing lines with our next-generation technology, and we expect to have this retrofitted line in commercial production in the spring of 2011,” he added.

The company said that the Auburn Hills changes will result in the elimination of approximately 140 jobs, and that employees impacted will receive severance and outplacement. ECD indicated that it will be adding personnel to its Tijuana facility, including rehiring workers who had previously been laid off because of global market conditions.

ECD previously phased out the manufacturing operations of its Solar Integrated Technologies unit in Los Angeles, deciding that the acquired company’s approach to flexible solar roofing products was not worth pursuing, according to company sources.

Read Next

October 16, 2025
Masdar and Turkey have entered the final stage of US$1 billion agreement to develop the 1.1GW plant in Bor, Niğde Province, central Turkey.
October 16, 2025
T1 Energy and Nextracker have agreed to use the latter’s steel module frames at the former’s new 5GW module manufacturing facility in Dallas.
October 16, 2025
US utility-scale solar additions grew by 56% in 2024, reaching 30GW from 2023’s 19GW and representing over 54% of all new electricity generation capacity added in the country last year.
October 16, 2025
Expanding the electrification of Europe’s energy sector, would be the 'main tool' to improve the EU’s energy security, according to Ember.
October 16, 2025
Jakson Green and Blueleaf Energy have reached financial close for the 840MWp Bikaner solar projects in Rajasthan, western India. 
October 16, 2025
Off-grid solar company Sun King has revealed plans to set up manufacturing operations in Kenya and Nigeria.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 21, 2025
New York, USA
Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
December 2, 2025
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK