Ortronics, Inc., a Legrand group company headquartered in New London, Conn., has announced plans to relocate its Norwich, Conn., and Bradenton, Fla., manufacturing operations to Pass & Seymour/Legrand’s manufacturing facility in Gastonia. The decision will allow the company to better utilize its more modern facility in Gastonia while at the same time achieve significant cost reductions in its overall manufacturing operations.

Product line relocations began in October 2001 with all moves to be fully completed by April 1, 2002. A four-phase product line relocation plan has been established to insure that proper customer service levels are maintained during the move. The product line relocations will mean approximately 150 new jobs at the Gastonia facility.

Gastonia Plant Manager Jim Todd remarked, "We have a state of the art facility here in Gastonia and we have assembled a dedicated group of workers since the opening of this facility. We look forward to the growth opportunity that’s been provided to us and we’re certainly looking forward to acquiring more of the type of workers we have here now."

Ortronics is a world leader in the manufacture and sale of data communications connectivity products. Pass & Seymour/Legrand, a wholly owned subsidiary of Legrand of Limoges, France, is a leading producer of electrical and network wiring devices and accessories in North America. Legrand is one of the world’s largest producers of wiring devices with 2000 sales of $2.60 billion, operations in 60 countries and 27,100 employees worldwide.