Keithley: Move to China in Company's 'Best Interest'

Keithley Instruments, a Solon company that's moving hundreds of manufacturing jobs to China in the next year, said in a statement that the move is in the company's best interest.

"This decision was reached after lengthy evaluation and analysis of a number of alternatives, and was determined to be in the best interest of Keithley’s long-term competitiveness," the statement reads.

Company and city officials aren't talking about the move, which is expected to move most of Keithley's Solon-based manufacturing jobs to China through mid-2012. It's unclear exactly how many jobs will be moved from the location on Aurora Road.

But in the statement, Keithley officials say the company will continue to produce "select products" in Solon, as well as continue product research, quality control and overall company management at the Solon location.

Keithley was bought last year for about $300 million by Danaher Corp. Keithley will move its manufacturing into a factory in China owned by Tektronix, another Danaher subsidiary.

Keithley makes equipment used to test electronic devices. The company has roughly 550 workers, with more than half working in Solon.