Apple To Axe 450 Jobs At Irish Plant

Computergram International, Feb 3, 1999

Apple Computer Corp is reported to be planning to move PC production from its Cork, Ireland plant to Wales. The work will be transferred to the LG Electronics plant in Newport, Wales through a sub-contracting deal with the Korean chip manufacturer. This will mean the loss of 450 jobs at the Irish facility.

David Miller, Apple UK's corporate affairs manager, refused to comment on the move but stressed that worldwide operations were currently undergoing review. Apple's aim is to lower inventory holdings, and Miller said that Apple had already lowered its inventory stock to two days worth through previous outsourcing agreements. The deal is expected to involve Apple's iMac consumer PC. The G3 will still be produced at the Cork plant. LG Electronics refused to comment on the deal. The fate of LG Semicon's unfinished chip plant, also in Newport, is still undecided.