Foxconn Invests $210 Million To Build New Production Line For Apple

redletterdave writes "On Monday, Foxconn agreed to invest $210 million to help Apple build out a new production line for 'unspecified components.' The 40,000-square-meter plant plans to hire roughly 35,800 new employees to help assemble parts for either desktop and laptop computers, iPhones, iPads, iPods, or possibly even new products or devices. Apple projects the plant's annual output between $949 million to $1.1 billion, and also estimates the import and export value at roughly $55.8 million."

Re:36,000 employees? Why?

[Hentes]

In some places people are cheaper than robots.

Re:36,000 employees? Why?

[Anonymous Coward]

It's mostly down to the time it takes to design and construct an assembly line for making electronic products. The time it takes to do all that it generally longer than the production run of the device (especially with smartphones). It's much cheaper and simpler to just get a massive manned production line to do it instead.

Re:Close quarters!

[WizADSL]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and suggest that ALL the employees will not be present at the SAME TIME.

Re:Close quarters!

[olsmeister]

I would assume the employees are working in multiple shifts, in other words, not all 35,800 are in the building at the same time.

Re:36,000 employees? Why?

[timeOday]

I'm sure they know what they're doing. But I do find it interesting that this foxconn plant will employ ten times as many people [fb.com] as all of facebook.com (with 3500 employees). The idea that there could ever be enough "knowledge worker" jobs to replace what manufacturing used to be just doesn't hold up.

Re:Like what? Buying Apple more ethnically sound.

[alphamax]

I don't own one single Apple product

And some decide to stay in the gutter. That is your choice, but don't pretend you are better than me because of it.

Why do you think he is pretending he is better than you? The rest of the quote you conveniently left out is

because I don't buy into walled gardens, it's that simple.

It sounds to me like the closed ecosystem doesn't appeal to him. Saying that "some decide to stay in the gutter" sounds like you are pretending that you are better because you purchased a particular brand.

Re:In the USA?

[hahn]

They are not a charity organization. Why would they create much more expensive USA jobs if it doesn't help their business or maximize profits for their shareholders? You might think it's the right thing to do. A shareholder of AAPL might disagree. People who like to buy Apple products might also disagree when the prices go up.

Re:Would you accept Chinese wages in US of A?

[Taco Cowboy]

There's another way. Stop this suicidal race to the bottom.

Unfortunately there is no way to stop this blind rush to the bottom

How much are you willing to pay for your next iPAD? $7,999.00 or $499.00 ?

How much are you willing to pay for your next iTV? $18,999.00 or $999.00 ?

You are the consumer, you vote with your wallet. and get to decide where your next purchase will be made

If you want your next gadget to be made in the US of A, be prepared to pay more, much more than what you are currently willing to pay

Do not blame the CEO, the "Top 1%", for the outsourcing of jobs

It's YOU and ME, the consumers, who have told corporations such as Apple, LOUDLY, with our collective wallets, that we want our next gadget to be CHEAP - and the corporations oblige, by seeking out the place where they can make the gadget with the lowest cost possible, namely the Far East