NASHVILLE, NC – EMS provider Fawn Electronics has moved to its new manufacturing site in the Nashville Business Center in Nash County, near Raleigh. The 47,000 sq. ft. facility employs 90 to 100 workers.
Fawn’s original plant site in Elm City, NC was destroyed in a fire in December 2005.
“While we didn’t take this path by choice, we have tried to capitalize on the situation by rebuilding a facility that is larger and more flexible in terms of production capabilities than the facility we lost two years ago,” said president Art Rutledge. “We’ve actually completed our move-in nearly two weeks ahead of schedule. We are now looking forward to a normal holiday schedule this year and strong business momentum in 2008.”
After the fire, the operation was relocated to a temporary facility in Wilson, NC, while a permanent site was selected and the facility was constructed. The company has since invested more than $2 million in production equipment, including replacements and new capabilities. The new site has also passed an ISO audit.
ESPOO, FINLAND – Nokia said it received a favorable initial ruling from the International Trade Commission on a patent dispute with Qualcomm related to some of its GSM communications products.
Commission judge Paul J. Luckern ruled that Nokia did not infringe or violate the three Qualcomm patents involved in the dispute. The judge also found one of the patents invalid.
Qualcomm said it plans to request a review of the initial ruling.
Qualcomm's initial ITC complaint from June 9, 2006, involved six patents, but the company later voluntarily withdrew three. The San Diego-based company claimed the three patents left were key to GSM.
Similar disputes between the two companies are pending in Europe and China.
The commission’s final ruling is expected by April 14.