Company announces 30 workers laid off
By Andrew Bell
Published in News on November 19, 2006 2:00 AM
MOUNT OLIVE -- IMPulse NC Inc. officials announced Friday the company has laid off 30 employees after deciding to end one of its manufacturing lines.
IMPulse NC President Terry Derrico said the company will no longer pursue its traction power systems division and that division's contracts.
The company restructuring will not affect its high-speed circuit breakers and overhead electrification group, along with any existing contracts or pending offers, he added.
IMPulse NC is working with other industries in the area to find employment for the former employees, Derrico said.
Another IMPulse NC product is still under development, and Derrico said he hopes the company will start a new production line late next year.
Wayne County Develop-ment Alliance existing industry specialist Mike Haney said IMPulse NC officials told him ending the production line was necessary to enhance future production.
Derrico said the company is financially stronger because of the cuts.
The company was founded in North Carolina in 1990 with a core group of traction power professionals and employees. IMPulse NC serves as an international transit electrification component supplier. Many of its products are used for projects in trolley coach, monorail, heavy rail, light rail, commuter rail and high-speed applications.
Company officials and employees moved into a 92,000-square-foot facility in Mount Olive in 1998. That facility expanded by 3,500 square feet of office space and 40,000 square feet of production space in 2002.
With the end of its traction power systems division, Derrico said the company's primary focus next year will be on its alternative energy traction power battery substation, or BASS.