GE closing Rochester facility, work moving to supplier in China

General Electric plans to close its manufacturing facility on Science Parkway in Rochester by next June, company officials announced late Tuesday.

About 145 employees work at the site, which is in the Rochester Science Park off South Avenue. Officials said the closure will impact 90 workers, and that some employees in sales, technology and technical services will remain in Rochester in a building adjacent to the plant. 

Company spokeswoman Annette Busateri said work currently performed in Rochester (the assembly of the electronic boards) will be moved to a GE partner supplier, Jabil's China facility. Jabil is based in Florida.

"Transferring work is always a tough decision, but we are committed to supporting our employees during this time of transition," Busateri said in a written statement. 
Electronic board assembly "is not core to GE's manufacturing capabilities and GE contracts 80 percent of these products to external partner suppliers already."

GE's Rochester employees were told of the closure on Tuesday. Severance pay and tuition reimbursement will be provided to workers losing their jobs, she said.

The site has been operating since 1985 as Microwave Data Systems. In 2007, GE acquired the business, she said. 

 VFREILE@Gannett.com