Cookson moving solder Ops to Mexico.

JERSEY CITY, NJ -- Cookson Electronics Assembly Materials (cooksonelectronics.com) will reorganize its North American manufacturing operations, shifting some operations from the U.S. to Mexico during the next six to 12 months, the company said in December.

The company will close two sites in the U.S. and will build a manufacturing plant in Mexico. It will also relocate its headquarters to another, unspecified site in New Jersey.

The division, whose sales topped [pounds sterling]270 million and were up 25.5% in the first half, sells Alpha Metals solders and fluxes, semiconductor packaging materials, and includes CE Analytics.

Rick Ertmann, executive vice president of the Americas Region, said in a statement: "The marketplace in North America has changed. We believe that this is the right time to make some strategic changes in our manufacturing base to better serve our customers. Relocating some of our operations to Mexico will allow us to continue to grow and serve our customers in Mexico as well as North America."

Cookson will transfer its Alpha solder paste, cored wire and wave soldering flux manufacturing to two sites in Mexico. Cookson said the "partial shift to Mexico" and restructuring plan will allow it "to support its competitiveness in the region and sustain the business growth that will, in turn, continue to fuel its significant R & D efforts."