Tech component manufacturer expanding its Reno operations

A San Jose-based manufacturer of technology components will expand its Reno operations as an alternative to moving more work offshore.

Gold Technologies will approximately double the size of its staff currently about 10 at the South Meadows facility. The expanded production capacity is scheduled to come on line during the fourth quarter.

Patricia Tran, chief executive officer of Gold Technologies, said the decision to expand the Reno operation provided an alternative to Asian manufacturing, which brings travel and communications challenges along with low costs.

"Our technical and customer service personnel can travel between company headquarters and the Nevada factory in a few hours if needed, but we still expect to see outstanding cost reduction versus the same manufacturing space in San Jose," Tran said.

Gold Technologies designs and makes low-cost test sockets, pins and connectors used by technology manufacturers.

Tran said the northern Nevada plant also can deliver products more quickly to the company's Silicon Valley customers.

Bob Fenton, vice president of marketing and sales, said the company won't expand its 28,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Reno, but it will make a heavy investment in new production equipment.