Teradyne expands Asian operations.

Since GenRad, Inc. (Westford, MA), a provider of electronics testing and production solutions, merged with Teradyne (Boston, MA) in October 2001, Patrick Tong of GenRad, who is based in the company's Hong Kong, China, office, has become the general manager for Teradyne's Asia operations--a rapidly expanding business unit.

Teradyne has no official Asia office, and as Renate Fritz, director of global communications for Teradyne, stated, "With today's world of globalization and technology, managing teams and people remotely is not difficult. But, with myself [and Patrick Tong] being in Hong Kong, you may say Hong Kong is the Asia headquarters."

Although Tong plans to make no major policy changes, he said, "The company wishes to get closer to its customers, let them know what is happening worldwide in the industry and to become more flexible in working with our customers."

This theme will be the main thrust of Teradyne's 2002 road show, called Enhancing the Value--Teradyne-Asia, opening at NEPCON Shanghai 2002, held April 9-12, 2002. Following Shanghai, the road show will travel to Shenzhen, China; Singapore; Taipei; and Taiwan over a two-week period. Several international speakers will outline new industry trends, speak on manufacturing strategy and show customers what is currently happening in the world of electronics manufacturing.

Tong also informed Circuits Assembly that Teradyne's expansion in Asia includes plans to open a new production facility in Pudong Industrial Park, Shanghai, which will produce backplanes and connectors by mid-2002. This expansion will increase the number of facilities in China to three. The company also opened a new production plant in Penang, Malaysia, at the end of 2001, which also manufactures backplanes and connectors. Teradyne also has a 15-year-old production facility in Japan.