Area Development
Sony Digital Audio Disc Corporation (DADC) is closing its Pitman, New Jersey, facility on March 31, laying off approximately 300 employees, the Courier-Post reports. The site, which is one of only two Sony production facilities on the East Coast, will move operations to Terre Haute, Indiana.

"In light of the current economic environment and challenges facing the physical media industry, Sony DADC (Digital Audio Disc Corporation) is taking additional steps to reduce cost from our supply chain network in order to remain competitive," said Senior Director of Communications Lisa Gephardt.

The facility was producing 18 million compact discs each month, but work has been slowing. It stopped producing DVDs in February 2010 and eliminated 160 positions.

Sony was once the county's largest employer, peaking at 1,000 employees in 1994.

The decline in use of compact discs and DVDs in favor of digital media has negatively affect the physical media industry in recent years.