OCEANSIDE ----- SMM USA, a maker of frames for TV picture tubes, is searching for new business after last week's announcement that its sole product would no longer be needed.

SMM supplies the frames for picture tubes, or cathode ray tubes (CRTs), made in Sony Electronics' Rancho Bernardo plant. Sony Electronics announced last week that it was closing down the line and laying off about 400 people, a process that it said will be completed by June.

"One hundred percent" of SMM's business comes from Sony Electronics, Karin Spink, SMM's vice president of administration, said Monday. The company, which employs 115 people in the Rancho Del Oro Technology Park, has supplied the CRT frames for 16 years, she said.

Spink said SMM is talking with its Japanese parent, Sumitomo Metal Mining, which will decide what to do with the company. Since the product-line shutdown will take place over several months, she said, there's time to explore alternatives such as finding new customers.

Gary Knight, chief executive of the San Diego North Economic Development Council, said the news "demonstrates the need to provide a diverse client base."

Knight said he was reminded of Ford Motor Co.'s decision to lay off up to 30,000 employees and close 14 manufacturing plants. That decision, announced Monday, will hurt some companies that have major business ties with Ford, he said.

"It's going to cause a ripple effect with companies that have built their businesses around Ford," Knight said. "I think we're going to be hearing a lot of stories like this in the next few months."

Knight said the council would like to work with SMM to help it find new customers.

"We'll be putting the word out to professional organizations to see what resources are available," Knight said. "We also need to know how far away they can go out (to serve customers), in North County or San Diego County. Can they go into Orange County, Los Angeles or across the country?"

SMM's manufacturing capabilities, according to its Web site, include cold roll forming with coil steel; shearing and forming press; pipe or solid bar cutting and bending; and TIG welding, using robotics and customized jigs.