Anyone got more insight news?
7 replies (most recent on top)
Do they actually design, develop, and test products there? Or is it just a corrupt government boondoggle situation?
On the contrary. Doesn't seem to be a significant risk of the SSDC site closing down in the short term. Both the design capabilities, and research capabilities are likely to increase. There is likely going to be an expansion of roles, and shift from US design centers. The cycle of invest, divest, invest, divest continues.
Why do thing Singapore will be shutdown? Singapore Government has given money since the beginning to disk drive companies, and other targeted industries, for meeting pre agreed to requirements that would last for 5 years at a time. The next 5 year contract would then raise the bar so not just so many operators but they had to start adding higher skills, manufacturing engineers, then managers on up to VP's. After some time they required product development teams and management being done by local people and not expats. The Singapore government was very smart and not let these companies just use the cheap labor and then move on when that would get too expensive but instead paid them to develop the skill set of the companies there. In the process they were getting companies hooked on this simi "free money" like a dr-g while at the same time developing the skills of the residents. I thought this was vey smart for the Singapore Gov to do this. Singapore gov was not stupid and even monitored that the requirements were being fulfilled. Towards the end of Maxtor's time there The Singapore government acquired evidence that the money being given was not being spent as promised. This resulted in the top Singapore VP being walked out in handcuffs. The chairman of the board had to fly there and bail him out of jail. I believe that these deals are still being made and Seagate loves this almost free money. Go look at the full financial fillings on the SEC site, Edgar, and look. This money has to be listed there. Last time I looked I found a sneaky entry that was combined with Thailand not sure if line item was income from this program. I only looked at the 1/4 year results, it may be more clear in the yearend filing.
SSDC is a Design Center, not a media factory.
China factory comes first?
Where will media come from?
I wish we would stop using so many acronyms on this site
I wish all Singapore Seagate plants would close down soon. Loads of corruption and racism going on there. Lots of employees with a low educational qualification get hired and promoted several times as long as they are close to a manager or a supervisor.