Factories Orange County

The four men weren't deterred by the conventional wisdom that you can no longer afford to build things in Southern California. When they decided a year ago to make a new kind of racing motorcycle, they ignored pessimists who complained that the Southland is expensive, restrictive and unfriendly to business. The trick, they determined, was to use the vast network of automotive and aerospace parts makers, suppliers and fabricators that already exists in this region.

The four men weren't deterred by the conventional wisdom that you can no longer afford to build things in Southern California. When they decided 12 months ago to make a new kind of racing motorcycle, they ignored pessimists who complained that Southern California is too expensive, too restrictive and unfriendly to business. The trick, they determined, was to use the vast network of automotive and aerospace parts makers, suppliers and fabricators that already exists in this region.

Damage to a foam-rubber manufacturing plant was estimated at $50,000 Tuesday, the morning after a stubborn fire forced the evacuation of 250 workers from neighboring businesses, officials said. About 8:40 p.m. Monday, firefighters responded to Future Foam Inc., 1050 S. State College Blvd. A fire had spontaneously broken out in the 4-by-4-by-8-foot foam blocks the company makes, Fire Chief Stephen P. Magliocco said.

Rockwell Corp. is expected to announce today that it has chosen Newport Beach over Colorado Springs as the site for expansion of its microchip manufacturing operations, a move that will add 150 new jobs. The $200-million expansion comes a year after a similar expansion at the same site by Rockwell, which is experiencing surging demand for the computer modem microchips. Rockwell already has 1,600 workers at its Newport Beach plant. "Right now, we have demand that outstrips supply.

Corning Inc., the biggest maker of glass for optical networks, said Tuesday that it will spend more than $20 million to remodel and expand a plant in Garden Grove next year. The company said it will take over more space in the building, tripling the size, said John Knight, a Corning spokesman. Growth in high-speed Internet access has driven up demand for the company's switching devices that control computer data transmissions, he said.

Standard Pacific Corp. said Monday that its wholly owned Panel Concepts Inc. subsidiary has purchased, for $450,000, equipment and inventory belonging to the Tandem Group, a privately held Buena Park office furniture maker which went bankrupt earlier this year. Based in Santa Ana, Panel Concepts subsidiary manufactures wall panels and office furniture. During 1985, the subsidiary had net earnings of about $2 million on revenues of $20 million, said Robert St.

Cytec Industries Inc., an aerospace chemicals giant with two factories in Orange County, said Thursday it has agreed to acquire Los Angeles-based American Materials & Technologies Corp. in a stock and debt assumption deal valued at $38 million. The acquisition is not expected to threaten jobs at either of Cytec's local plants in Anaheim and Orange. In all, the company employs about 350 workers at the two facilities, which manufacture adhesives and primers for the aerospace industry.

Just before Christmas, tortilla factories throughout Orange County were busier than ever, as they usually are doing the winter holidays. Selling masa (dough) to make tamales, a traditional Mexican dish, was the top priority at two major tortillerias as well as at smaller tortilla factories throughout the county.

State and federal labor authorities conducted raids Wednesday on garment factories in Orange County, but the whole affair turned out to be a flop when the four targeted shops were found to be in basic compliance with the law. Inspectors wrote up no citations and were hard pressed to explain why they hit the factories in the first place.

Mitsubishi Electronics America Inc. and the largest customer for its big-screen televisions are parting ways after 22 years. Circuit City Stores Inc. said Friday that it is dropping all Mitsubishi products, including videocassette recorders and camcorders.