Irvine circuit board maker Qualtech Backplane Inc. is nearly doubling the size of its operations in a consolidation of two facilities into one in Santa Ana.
The company’s is leasing 61,731 square feet at 3232 S. Fairview in Santa Ana. Qual-tech expects to finish the move to its new headquarters by the end of next month.
“We made the move to cut costs and improve logistics,” said company co-owner Jim Kerchner. “And we’re expanding to bring in additional capabilities that we’re currently contracting out.”
Qualtech is opting to expand despite the high-tech downturn, Kerchner said.
“Things are definitely flat at this time,” he said.
But Kerchner said the company’s effort to land new customers is helping Qualtech offset the slowdown. The company’s products are used in computer servers and telecommunications equipment. It also offers packaging and other services.
“We’re not being hurt as badly as a lot of other customers in our business because our client base is diverse,” Kirchner said. “A lot of people in telecommunications are getting hurt but not all our business is in telecom,our customers in other sectors are picking up the slack.”
The company now is based in 20,000 square feet of space on Campus Drive in Irvine. It also has space at St. Andrew’s Place in Santa Ana spanning 15,000 square feet.
The company counts 55 Orange County employees and plans to add 25 in the next year, according to Kerchner. Last year, Qualtech recorded $16 million in revenue and this year has forecast sales of $18 million, he said.
CB Richard Ellis brokered the eight-year lease for Qualtech. n
