About 500 jobs are to be created in Ovens, Co Cork, after a decision by EMC Corp, a manufacturer of information storage systems, to double the size of its operations there. The jobs are being created at the company's plant, which is to double in size through a 200,000 sq ft expansion. If a planning application is successful, it is anticipated that the plant will be open by the end of 1998.
Yesterday, a spokesman for IDA Ireland described the announcement as "very significant for Cork", adding that the county was "undergoing a boom at the moment". Negotiations on the new project have still to be concluded with IDA Ireland, although it is understood that these discussions are expected to conclude shortly.
Cork has been the subject of several employment announcements over the last year and, according to the IDA, between 4,000 and 4,500 jobs have been created.
The Cork jobs are part of EMC's plans to double its manufacturing capacity worldwide, as demand for information storage systems increases.
In addition to the expansion in Cork, the company intends to build a new 555,000 square foot plant at its main US manufacturing plant in Franklin, Massachusetts.
Over £100 million will be invested between the two facilities over the next four years, according to the company.
EMC Ireland sells into all worldwide markets, except the US. This is its third major expansion since 1988.
EMC Corp is the world's leading supplier of intelligent enterprise storage and retrieval technology, designing systems for mainframe, open systems and midrange environments. The main product made by the company is Symmetrix.
The group is growing rapidly. In its recent second quarter results EMC Corp reported a 31 per cent increase in revenue, a 48 per cent net income gain and a 44 per cent surge in international sales, compared with the second quarter of 1996.
Over 5,500 people are employed by the group worldwide. These are spread between manufacturing operations, R&D facilities and approximately 100 sales and service offices.
At present there are 650 people employed at the Ovens plant. The majority work in direct manufacturing, with around 50 in the technical support department and international call centre, which opened last year.
A company statement said yesterday's "announcement demonstrates EMC's continued commitment to Cork and the new facilities will allow us to keep pace with demand while continuing our unique policy of thoroughly testing each and every system we ship".
At present 85 per cent of staff at the plant have a third-level qualification and management expects the new intake to be in line with this figure.
Most of the jobs will be for electronic engineers and technicians. Recruitment will take place gradually over the next year or more.
Ms Veronica Perdisatt, general manager at EMC Ireland, said the company was "delighted with the announcement", although many in the company had known about it for some time.
IDA Ireland has up to now committed £4.7 million in grant aid to EMC. It is understood that further grants will be provided as part of the latest announcement.
The plant was originally established in Ovens because of ancestral connections between the American management of EMC Corp and the Cork area.
