One of the world’s biggest manufacturers of electronic components Alps Electric is to create 140 new jobs as part of a €14m expansion of its Millstreet, Cork-based manufacturing facility, it was revealed today.
The Millstreet operation already employs 410 people in the manufacture of electronic heating/air-conditioning controllers, door modules, light switch systems and other driver visible parts for the automotive industry.
The operation, which originally came to Cork to manufacture computer peripherals, currently produces 40pc of Alps’ automotive products sold in the EU, which will rise to 60pc when the expansion is completed.
The 140 new jobs will be in the areas of engineering and general manufacturing and will come on stream over the next five years.
Announcing the investment, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheal Martin TD said: “This €14m investment, which will create 140 new jobs over the next five years, will bring the entire operation to a higher level increasing the technical sophistication, skills profile, product range and manufacturing capacity of the Millstreet facility.
“It will increase the Irish operation’s already important role in its parent company in Japan and in its global business. This is a significant boost for the company and I congratulate the management team and workforce for their on-going commitment and dedication,” the Minister said.
Alps Electric, which was founded in Tokyo in 1948, employs more than 32,000 people and has 24 production bases globally. For the year-ended March 2005, the company recorded a net profit of €121m and revenues of €4.8bn.
By John Kennedy
