San Antonio's Friedrich to move air-conditioning production to Mexico

Web Posted: 08/03/2007 11:19 AM CDT

Sean M. Wood
Express-News Business Writer

Friedrich Air Conditioning Co., a 124-year-old San Antonio company, will stop making room air conditioners here and move their production to Monterrey, Mexico.

The move will affect more than half of the company's 500 employees, who learned this morning the last day of production would be Nov. 16. The company's headquarters and some other functions will remain in San Antonio.

The facility in Monterrey opened last summer to make air conditioners used in hotels, condominiums and commercial buildings. It was Friedrich's first facility outside the United States.

Friedrich's Jane Deming said the move is an effort to remain competitive in a business where most room air conditioners are being made in China. The facility here makes window units, which are used in facilities without central air.

Friedrich said it will keep its administrative functions, engineering, parts service and warehousing in San Antonio. There is a 100-person coil shop that makes components for the window units. It has not been decided if that operation will stay or also move. Friedrich is working with the Texas Workforce Commission on job placement for 263 employees.
The company was started here in 1883 as a furniture maker.

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