Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America laid off about 170 workers on Friday, March 18.  The company, which has its headquarters in Irvine, California, is a subsidiary of Japan based Mitsubishi Electric Corporation.  The layoffs came as a result of it pulling out of the LCD TV business.

The layoffs are going to occur in phases, and a company spokesperson reports that a large percentage of them will be in Irvine.  Two of Mitsubishi’s distribution centers are closing as well.  One is located in Ontario and the other located in Braselton, GA.  All of their services will be relocated to the company’s Irvine headquarters.

The company will continue to restructure in the next few months and focus on larger than 73 inch TVs.  According to a spokeswoman for Mitsubishi Electric, Cayce Blanchard, “There have been significant price pressures in the television business and particularly the LCD business.  We’re going to focus our business on our strength in the 73-and-above category and expand our professional visual business.”