When German solar panel manufacturer SolarWorld took over the former Shell Solar plant in Camarillo in 2006, the early signals were not exactly encouraging.

First, SolarWorld planted its North American headquarters flag not in Ventura County but in Hillsboro, Ore., where it acquired an empty computer chip factory and built a solar panel plant that will employ 1,000 people.

Then came job cuts in Camarillo as the company began to heavily automate its manufacturing processes.

But this year, things are humming at the SolarWorld plant off Pleasant Valley Road just west of Highway 101.

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