Foxconn Building New $210 Million Production Line for Apple Products

[MacRumors]

China Daily reports that Apple's manufacturing partner Foxconn continues to expand its operations in support of Apple's strong growth in product sales, investing $210 million to build a new production line for unspecified components. The new production line is said to be set to come on line in October of this year and will be located in the Chinese city of Huai'an in the eastern province of Jiangsu.

The plant, covering an area of 40,000 square meters, plans to hire 35,800 employees.

The annual output value of the plant is expected to reach 6 to 7 billion yuan ($949 million to $1.1 billion), and the import and export value will be $55.8 million, the office said.

Foxconn, which has come under scrutiny regarding workers rights issues and has recently been working with Apple to monitor issues and improve standards, has been aggressively expanding its facilities to support Apple's production needs. In addition to new production facilities for the iPhone and iPad in Brazil, the company has also recently adopted a strategy of decentralizing its Chinese production facilities, building some of its new plants in interior regions closer to the homes of many of the young workers seeking jobs with the company.

Foxconn workers polishing iPad rear shells (Source: ABC/Nightline)​

It is unclear what role the forthcoming Huai'an facility will play in the production of Apple devices, and while the addition of nearly 36,000 workers marks a substantial investment in new production for Apple, it will represent only a small fraction of Foxconn's overall workforce, which currently includes well over one million employees.

Article Link: Foxconn Building New $210 Million Production Line for Apple Products

 

[ChrisTX]

Probably for Apple branded television sets.

 

[miles01110]

*Cue comments about Apple not reducing unemployment in the US*

 

[dennno]

Despite all the negative press about working hours etc. This is good news for the Chinese workers who want to work there.

 

[MacinDoc]

Probably for Apple branded television sets.

That sort of product (likely much larger than anything else Apple sells) would probably warrant a different production line from the ones already up and running.

 

[miles01110]

That sort of product (likely much larger than anything else Apple sells) would probably warrant a different production line from the ones already up and running.

Did you even read the article?

...Apple's manufacturing partner Foxconn continues to expand its operations in support of Apple's strong growth in product sales, investing $210 million to build a new production line for unspecified components.

 

[RogueWarrior65]

Where do they get those wonderful toys?

I'd personally like to know where they get all the specialty tools used in assembling Apple products. Like little air-powered screwdrivers suspended from overhead racks that know just how much torque to apply before stripping the screw head off.

 

[wickerman1893]

Apple better hope their demand doesnt slow down as the limit of amount of devices one person can have gets closer.

 

[0098386]

I'd personally like to know where they get all the specialty tools used in assembling Apple products. Like little air-powered screwdrivers suspended from overhead racks that know just how much torque to apply before stripping the screw head off.

I'm interested too. I'd love to see a documentary on the tech they use.

 

[organicman]

What about USA production?

Radical idea: build a production plant in a depressed area such as Appalachia. Pay minimum wage plus bonuses based on production. Market Apple products as proudly made in the USA. Put Americans to work. Stop pushing power toward a Communist country where human rights are routinely violated. Help reverse the tide of opportunistic globalization in favor of ethical responsibility on the part of big businesses. Whoa! What a concept...

 

[ChrisTX]

Apple better hope their demand doesnt slow down as the limit of amount of devices one person can have gets closer.

What limit is that? If there is a limit of Apple devices a person can own I must not have recieved the memo.

 

[bwillwall]

Did you even read the article?

I don't think they even read the title.

 

[Moonjumper]

Apple better hope their demand doesnt slow down as the limit of amount of devices one person can have gets closer.

Foxconn who would have trouble much sooner as they own the factories.

 

[whooleytoo]

Apple better hope their demand doesnt slow down as the limit of amount of devices one person can have gets closer.

Perhaps in some markets, they're approaching some 'saturation' point. But with consumer electronics, the turnover is very quick. People who bought (say) the original iPad would still go out and buy the new iPad. So there's little risk of demand falling away.

Then, bear in mind there's a fast-growing middle-class in the larger Asian economies that could provide a massive new market.

 

[Skoopman]

Despite all the negative press about working hours etc. This is good news for the Chinese workers who want to work there.

Yep. I never understood why people complained about it in the first place. Those people have a choice and if they want to work XX hours a day, they should be allowed to do so. I work sometimes over 12 hours a day and nobody gives a damn, freelancing ftw.

...investing $210 million to build a new production line for unspecified components.

Could be the rumored television, but could also mean anything...

 

[nastebu]

Radical idea: build a production plant in a depressed area such as Appalachia. Pay minimum wage plus bonuses based on production. Market Apple products as proudly made in the USA. Put Americans to work. Stop pushing power toward a Communist country where human rights are routinely violated. Help reverse the tide of opportunistic globalization in favor of ethical responsibility on the part of big businesses. Whoa! What a concept...

You're asking for a jobs program. It's the kind of thing the government should do, not a private company.

For Apple, building a factory in a place like Appalachia would make no sense. It's far from transportation lines, sources of cheap power, and a cheap, but educated and skillful workforce. There are very good reasons to produce electronics in China.

As for marketing products as "made in the USA," that *might* work here, but keep in mind how much Apple sells in other countries. Even if you could convince Americans to pay more to support jobs in the US, I doubt you could convince, for example, Japanese to pay more to support jobs in the US.

 

[gfranxman]

Dense

Man, that's roughly 1.1 square meter per employee. Less if they have toilets within the facility.

 

[davidgnomo]

When it starts like this, I know it's not gonna be a good day to get interesting rumors ...

 

[OllyW]

Man, that's roughly 1.1 square meter per employee. Less if they have toilets within the facility.

They will probably work shifts to get the maximum production from the factory so it's unlikely that all of the employees will be there at the same time.

 

[jonnysods]

World domination in 3, 2, 1....

 

[Ugg]

Man, that's roughly 1.1 square meter per employee. Less if they have toilets within the facility.

They probably have three shifts a day.

 

[Dlanod]

It would be nice to see increased automation and less human intervention - this would help with the QC issues with the latest iPad. When you see this picture it's no wonder why dust and hair appears under our screens.

 

[foodog]

Apple better hope their demand doesnt slow down as the limit of amount of devices one person can have gets closer.

Why? Apple isn't builing the plant.

 

[justperry]

Probably for Apple branded television sets.

Too little place for that, if they work↓↓↓

They probably have three shifts a day.

then its still only 3 quare meter per employee.
And that what ↓↓↓ said

That sort of product (likely much larger than anything else Apple sells) would probably warrant a different production line from the ones already up and running.

Man, that's roughly 1.1 square meter per employee. Less if they have toilets within the facility.

3.3 square meters if↓↓↓

They probably have three shifts a day.

They will probably work shifts to get the maximum production from the factory so it's unlikely that all of the employees will be there at the same time.

For all those people to work in only 3 square meters it's way too little to make those Tv's, or they are the size of an iPad

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

New factory for the
Mac Pro mini
and the
MacBook Air 15"

;-)