OCT. 4–ALBUQUERQUE, NM–For sale: Industrial ovens, optical work benches, various automated manufacturing equipment and about 7,000 square feet of cleanroom space. Best offer.
Not the average classified ad, but when LightPath Technologies announced in June that it would close its Albuquerque headquarters, the specialty glass and telecommunications equipment maker meant it.
The company began advertising this week that it will auction off the remnants of its Albuquerque offices on Saturday beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Viewings for prospective buyers are today and on Saturday before the start of the auction. LightPath ceased production in Albuquerque at the end of August and has since been packing up its office here for the move to a new headquarters in Orlando, FL. Saturday’s auction is to sell off the remainder of its equipment and supplies that are not being moved to Florida.
The closing of LightPath here also means the end of about 70 jobs in Albuquerque. It comes as part of a realignment of businesses within LightPath.
Donna Bogue, LightPath’s chief financial officer and a senior vice president, told the Albuquerque Journal that the company would still do limited work out of the office until mid-November with a staff of about 15. After that, the company’s move to Florida will be completed.
LightPath, which came to Albuquerque from Tucson in 1996, is moving to Florida because of heavy losses since 2000. The losses are part of the downturn by technology companies in the economy — particularly telecommunications companies, company officials say. Since 2000, LightPath has lost almost $112 million.