Agilent Technologies Adds New Fiber-Optic R&D Building In Ipswich, England
Source: Agilent
Plans to Invest $20 Million in Facilities and to Hire 500 New Employees
Ipswich, UK. Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A), the worldwide leader in fiber-optic transceivers, is adding a new $20 million, 80,000 square foot fiber-optic research and development facility to its Ipswich, England facility. Agilent plans to complete the new building in December 2001 and anticipates hiring up to an additional 500 employees as part of a continuing expansion. The majority of the new staff positions will be in engineering and R&D. New product developments and improvements to existing products generated by this investment will assist Agilent in meeting its stated goal of quadrupling its fiber-optic product manufacturing capacity over the next two years (announced June 7, 2000).
Agilent s Ipswich Components Operation (ICO), part of the company s Fiber-optic Communications Division, is devoted to the design, development and manufacture of optoelectronic communications components for the world market. It represents the source for Agilent s high-speed, medium- and long-haul laser-based fiber-optic transceivers, as well as for pump lasers used in long-distance undersea fiber-optic cables. The 178,000 square foot facility, designed specifically for optoelectronics, also includes 44,000 square feet of manufacturing space and one of the largest cleanrooms in Europe. The Agilent ICO has increased its employment by 150 since Agilent separated from Hewlett-Packard Company on Nov. 1, 1999, bringing the total to over 1,000 before the announced expansion.
"We are making this investment because the Ipswich operation continues to demonstrate a track record of inventing, developing and providing products for the expanding fiber-optic communications market," said David Parker, vice president and general manager of Agilent s Ipswich Components Operation.
Agilent Technologies currently has approximately 2,700 employees throughout the UK, with 750 current job openings.
In addition to its position as the leading supplier of fiber-optic transceivers, Agilent also provides leading-edge IC products to deliver integrated network semiconductor solutions. Further information on Agilent s fiber-optic communications offerings may be found on the Web at www.agilent.com/view/fiber/.
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) is a diversified technology company with approximately 46,000 employees serving customers in more than 120 countries. Agilent is a global leader in designing and manufacturing test, measurement and monitoring instruments, systems and solutions, and semiconductor and optical components. In fiscal year 1999, Agilent had net revenue of more than $8.3 billion. The company serves markets that include communications, electronics, life sciences and healthcare.
Information about Agilent Technologies can be found on the Web at www.agilent.com. This news release contains forward-looking statements (including, without limitation, statements about the company s plans to expand manufacturing capacity for fiber-optic components) that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the results of Agilent Technologies to differ materially from management s current expectations. These risks are detailed in Agilent s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 2000, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contact: Agilent Technologies Inc. Don Parkman Tel: 408/654-8794 don_parkman@agilent.com
Agilent Technologies Inc.
Don Parkman
Tel: 408/654-8794
don_parkman@agilent.com
E-mail: don_parkman@agilent.com
Web site: http://www.agilent.com
