HP Roseville plant

HP Roseville plant. The HP Roseville plant was a major manufacturing and research facility operated by Hewlett-Packard in Roseville, California. Opened in 1979, it became one of the company's largest and most advanced sites for producing inkjet and laser printers. The facility played a critical role in Hewlett-Packard's dominance of the global printing market before its closure in 2010 as part of a broader corporate restructuring.

History

The facility's construction was announced by Hewlett-Packard in 1978, during a period of significant expansion for the Silicon Valley pioneer under leaders like John A. Young. It opened the following year, initially focusing on manufacturing electronic test and measurement instruments and components for Hewlett-Packard's burgeoning computer divisions, such as those for the HP 3000 series. The plant's role evolved dramatically in the 1980s with the rise of the inkjet printing business, following the successful launch of the ThinkJet and DeskJet printer lines. This shift aligned with strategic decisions made by then-CEO Lew Platt to consolidate printer manufacturing. The site was expanded multiple times, including a major addition in the late 1990s to support booming demand driven by products like the HP LaserJet 4 series.

Operations and products

The Roseville plant functioned as a highly integrated manufacturing hub, producing a wide array of Hewlett-Packard's most popular printing products. Its operations encompassed the assembly of inkjet printers, including the DeskJet and OfficeJet series, and numerous models of laser printers like the LaserJet family. The facility also manufactured critical sub-assemblies such as printheads, formatter boards, and print servers. It housed advanced research and development labs focused on printing technologies, ink formulation, and automated assembly processes, working in concert with other Hewlett-Packard R&D centers, including the famous HP Labs in Palo Alto, California.

Facility and campus

Located in the Placer County portion of Roseville, California, the campus spanned approximately 1.6 million square feet on a site. The complex included multiple buildings dedicated to manufacturing, warehousing, research, and office space. It featured state-of-the-art cleanrooms for precision assembly, extensive automated conveyor systems, and a large on-site central utility plant. The architecture was characteristic of Hewlett-Packard's campus style, with low-rise buildings set amidst landscaped grounds, adhering to the company's "HP Way" philosophy of integrating work and environment.

Economic impact and workforce

For decades, the plant was one of the largest private employers in the Greater Sacramento region, with its workforce peaking at over 3,000 employees during the 1990s. It generated significant economic activity for Roseville and surrounding communities like Rocklin and Lincoln, supporting local suppliers and service industries. The workforce included a mix of skilled engineers, technicians, and assembly personnel, many of whom were represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. The plant's presence helped establish the region as a notable hub for high-technology manufacturing outside of the core San Francisco Bay Area.

Environmental record and initiatives

The plant's operations were subject to regulation by the California Environmental Protection Agency and the Placer County Air Pollution Control District. Hewlett-Packard implemented several environmental programs at the site, including early efforts to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from manufacturing processes. The facility also participated in corporate-wide initiatives like product take-back and recycling programs for used printers and toner cartridges. It achieved certifications under the ISO 14001 environmental management standard and made investments in energy efficiency for its large-scale operations.

Closure and legacy

In June 2009, Hewlett-Packard CEO Mark Hurd announced the plant would close as part of a global restructuring to consolidate manufacturing and reduce costs, shifting production to lower-cost facilities globally, including in Singapore and Kansas City, Missouri. Operations ceased in 2010, ending over three decades of manufacturing. The closure was part of a broader trend of offshoring in the electronics industry. The site was subsequently sold and redeveloped, with portions now occupied by enterprises like McLaughlin Vineyards and a Prologis industrial logistics center. The plant is remembered as a landmark of Hewlett-Packard's industrial history and a key contributor to the economic development of Placer County. Category:Hewlett-Packard Category:Buildings and structures in Roseville, California Category:Defunct manufacturing plants in the United States Category:Electronics companies established in 1979