CHICAGO -- Littelfuse today announced restructuring plans which will include negotiations to transfer the company's manufacturing site from Duensen, Germany, to Mexico. Research and development, sales and other functions will remain in Germany.

Through the restructuring, Littelfuse also intends negotiate closure of a company-owned distribution center in the Netherlands and distribute products in Europe through a third-party logistics provider. The company also plans to consolidate its Taiwan wafer fabrication facility (acquired as part of the Concord Semiconductor acquisition in 2006) into Wuxi, China.

In addition, the restructuring will include consolidation of certain support activities into the company’s existing low-cost sites, and other workforce reductions due to functional realignment and job elimination.

The company said it expects to book restructuring charges of approximately $5 to $8 million pre-tax over the next several quarters related to these announcements. These restructuring activities are expected to begin in the third quarter of 2009 and be fully complete by the end of 2010. The annual savings from these activities are expected to be approximately $7 million.

“These latest restructuring plans are consistent with our overall themes of reducing sites, moving activities to low-cost locations and moving to a leaner and flatter organizational structure,” said Gordon Hunter, chief executive officer. “These were difficult decisions that affect many Littelfuse associates who have contributed to our success. However, we believe that these moves are in the best interest of our company, our customers and our shareholders over the long-term.”