SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — The maker of Invisalign clear braces for teeth will close its New Jersey facility next year, eliminating 119 jobs, and move operations overseas to cut costs.
Align Technology Inc. expects to save about $4 million per year because of the moves, the company said Wednesday. The staffing cuts will trim Align's global workforce of 2,400 by 5 percent.
The Carlstadt, N.J. facility will shut down by the third quarter of 2012. Align had acquired the facility when it bought dentistry services provider Cadent Holdings Inc. in March.
The New Jersey facility's employees had worked in computer-assisted manufacturing and design and provided teeth-scanning services for dentists and orthodontists. Align will transfer those operations to Costa Rica and Mexico, while accounting and finance services are consolidated at company headquarters in San Jose, California.
Closing down the New Jersey center will cost Align about $2 million through 2012. The moves are not expected to affect the company's earnings per share in 2011, Align said.
Align shares rose 99 cents, or 5.6 percent, to close at $18.58. The stock has traded from $16.24 to $25.94 in the past 12 months.
