NEW YORK-Harris Corp., Melbourne, Fla., announced July 20 a work force reduction of 2,300, or 8 percent, due primarily to weakness in the semiconductor market, said the company. The company also said it planned to exit the analog base station business.
About 1,900 of the layoffs, which are part of a “restructuring program to enhance competitiveness and improve financial performance,” will come from the company’s semiconductor operation, Harris said.
Harris’ communications division will “exit its wireless analog base station business, which it acquired from NovAtel in fiscal 1996, and merge the remaining digital product line into its existing microwave radio business,” the company said. It also will discontinue its WireFree fixed-wireless line of products developed for in-building usage.
“Harris continues to focus its efforts on the fast-growing segments of its communications business, (like) digital television and microwave radio systems,” Phillip W. Farmer, chairman, president and chief executive officer, said.
