US-based Molex, a manufacturer of electronic, electrical and fibre optic connectivity systems, has opened a new $130m factory in Guadalajara, Mexico. The 60,000m2 facility almost doubles the company’s existing footprint in Guadalajara and has the potential to expand by an additional 100,000m2. Molex also plans to increase its headcount from 200 staff to 300 by the end of 2022.

The new site will provide advanced engineering services and large-scale production for automotive, transportation and industrial customers across North America and worldwide. It will also help meet growing demand for interconnect solutions for electric vehicles, advanced driver assistance systems and connected vehicles. The state-of-the-art plant features advanced production-line automation and autonomous robots as well as cutting-edge moulding and assembly tools.

In a press release, senior vice-president Mike Bloomgren commented: “Our history in Mexico spans more than 50 years, earning Molex a strong reputation for developing world-class facilities and engineering talent to deliver customer-focused solutions. The opening of a new factory in Guadalajara dedicated to transportation customers further enhances our ability to effectively and economically address the most complex challenges in automotive connectivity, battery management, vehicle safety and zonal architectures.”

The new factory will complement Molex’s existing facilities for its transportation & industrial solutions division. These include sites in Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Philippines, Poland, South Korea and the US.