Conference tallis::celt

1225.0. "APC to move to Galway" by TOLKIN::OROURKE (Yessss...I graduated!) Thu Jun 10 1993 13:47

    
    Here's the text of an article from The Providence Journal regarding
    APC's move into Galway:  June 5, 1993
    
    APC will open Plant in Ireland
    ==============================
    * The expansion is part of an overall search for more manufacturing
    space.
    
    American Power Conversion said yesterday it will establish a production
    and technical support center in Ireland, after the Irish government
    tentatively approved a financial and tax incentive package.
    
    The South Kingstown-based company, which makes uninterruptible power
    supply devices for computer equipment, said final details are still
    being worked out but that it expects to begin operations in Galway in
    late summer.
    
    "The extablishment of an operation in Ireland will enable us to better
    serve our European custoemrs from a service and manufacturing
    standpoint," said Rodger B. Dowdell, president of APC.
    
    The expansion to Ireland is part of an overall search for more
    manufacturing space by the growing APC.  The company, which employs
    about 750 in Rhode Island, is currently looking for a new location in
    the state or in the southeastern U.S. to expand its North American
    manufacturing operations.
    
    The demand for more space was created by APC's rapid growth.  The
    eight-year-old firm reported revenues of $157.4 million in 1992 and
    income of $27.7 million.
    
    MOst of its sales came in the U.S. and Canada, but about $32 million
    came from Europe, and APC believes those countries present great
    opportunity.
    
    "The networking market outside of the U.S. and Canada is increasing,"
    said Debbie Grey, marketing coordinator for APC.  "International
    markets are hooking their computers together more, which increases the
    potential for our product."
    
    Grey said Ireland was selected over other European countries because of
    the incentives proposal, plus available skilled labor.  The Irish
    government is providing APC a package worth about $22.2 million over
    five years in equipment, training, and facilities, according to Grey.
    
    "In Galway they offer a 10 percent corporate tax rate vs. what we're
    paying in Rhode Island now of about 35%, both federal and state," she
    said.
    
    Under the proposal, APC would occupy about 260,000 square feet of an
    existing facility where it would build the international 220-volt
    version of its uninterruptible power source.  The U.S. unit is 120
    volts.
    
    The European units are currently made at the South Kingstown plant, but
    Grey said the transfer of that operation will not result in any job
    loss in Rhode Island.  The Galway plant is expected to employ about 600
    in five years.