The new structure features a 10,000-sf clean zone for integrating fiber-optic cable into its product line for its customers, which include Alcatel and Cisco Systems. The manufacturing site also boasts a larger warehouse and shipping and receiving area, key components the company says will save time and money for its customers.

The property at 1801 10th St. in Plano will house Teradyne's growing workforce, which now numbers 55 - a 34% increase just in the third quarter, according to the company. Teradyne Connection Systems is a division of Teradyne Inc., a leading manufacturer of high-performance custom backplanes, high-speed/high-density interconnects, and complete electro-mechanical packaging subassemblies. TCS employs more than 4,000 people at its New Hampshire production facilities and over 5,000 worldwide. More than 70% of Teradyne's business is driven by the Internet growth, with 1999 sales reaching $1.8 billion.

The announcement of the relocation within Plano's bounds has fallen the same day that Dallas Semiconductor has ordered more than $5 million of Teradyne's test systems for mixed-signal telecom and microcontroller device testing.