Some sad news today. Sony Electronics announced that it plans to shutter its Dothan, Alabama manufacturing plant and move its production to Japan.
According to the statement, operations will be phased out starting in April 2010, with the closure planned to be completed by September 2010.
Established in 1975 (production began in 1997), this 880,000 square-foot 75 Acre facility manufactures Sony’s professional, consumer and data storage magnetic tapes, print media products, as well as coating material for optical discs. Nearly 65% of the plant’s production is sold in the U.S. while the remainder is exported to Europe, Central and South America and Asia. Approximately 300 full-time employees have been given notice and will receive severance, as well as other benefits, as operations cease.
Speaking at the factory’s 30th anniversary celebrations in June 2007, Barry Singletary, president of Sony Dothan said “this facility has a distinguished track record of achievement, in terms of service to the audio and video industries, and also to the local community. Looking toward the future, we are adding new formats to our production schedules and also putting in place new processes to keep our operations effective and efficient, and to help us respond to the needs of customers and suppliers as quickly as possible.”
How times change.
Sony’s Milestones in Dothan
1975 – Incorporated in Alabama as Sony Magnetic Products, Inc. of America
1977 – Started Umatic/Beta Cassette Assembly
1978 – Started Magnetic Media Manufacturing
1983 – Started VHS Cassette Production
1991 – Started 8mm Video Cassette Assembly
1994 – Started D-8 Data Cassette Production
1997 – Started DDS Data Cassette Production
1998 – Started Metal Particle (MP) Media Production
1999 – $34 million expansion
1999 – Started Advanced Metal Evaporated Media Production
2004 – Began production of Digital Video Cassette media
2004 – Began production of LTO Data Storage product
2007 – Began production of Digital Betacam
Sony Magnetic Products Inc. of America (SMPA)
4275 West Main Street
Dothan, AL 36305
For more information visit: www.sony.net