Solectron's rise and acquisition by Flextronics (1977-2007)
Solectron, founded in San Jose in 1977, grew into one of the world's largest electronics contract manufacturers, employing tens of thousands globally. By the mid-2000s, competition from Asian manufacturers and shrinking margins pushed it into decline.
Flextronics acquired Solectron in 2007 in a multi-billion-dollar stock deal, and most Bay Area production eventually moved offshore.
The acquisition cemented the shift of electronics manufacturing out of Silicon Valley, a trend that has continued for nearly two decades.
It shows that contract manufacturing in Silicon Valley has been shrinking for decades, and Jabil's latest closure is the newest chapter in that story.
