Monday February 12, 2007

Kodak to slash up to 3000 more jobs

news.yahoo.com :

Kodak is cutting 3,000 more jobs this year as the picture-taking pioneer wraps up its wrenching transformation into a digital-imaging company focused on consumer photography and commercial printing. By year-end, its work force will slip below 30,000, less than half what it was just three years ago.

On top of 27,000 layoffs already targeted, Kodak said it is reducing its payroll even further to accommodate the $2.35 billion sale in January of its health-imaging unit and its costly foray this week into a high-margin inkjet-printer market dominated by Hewlett Packard. Kodak unveiled a trio of home printers that produce documents and photos using ink cartridges that cost roughly half as much as the competition's. Analysts think the move could trigger a price war.

It is now eliminating 28,000 to 30,000 jobs by year-end, with 23,300 already axed. And the sale of its 111-year-old health unit, partly intended to help fund its $300 million-plus investment in inkjet, will strip another 8,100 jobs. That will shrink its payroll to around 29,000, its lowest level since the 1930s. It employed 64,000 people at the end of 2003 and 145,300 in 1988.

- Let's see. 145,300 jobs in 1988, down to 29,000 by the end of 2007. That's 116,300 jobs. Gone. Poof.

For an idea of scale, that's a bit less than the number of American personnel deployed in Iraq (132,000). In the local context, that is a bit more than the IT workforce in Singapore (111,400). Imagine the entire IT industry over here getting wiped out. That's a lot of people.

Also mentioned above is the ink cartridge war (posted Aug 2003) taking a new turn with Kodak now joining the fray, supposedly selling ink at half the price of HP and the rest. Hmm, I dunno. I reckon my refills are 7-8 times cheaper than the original HP cartridges. Well. It has been 3, maybe 4 years. The war continues.

See also :

1. Kodak to cut another 10000 jobs
2. Why DIY photo printing doesn't add up
3. Quenching your printer's exotic thirst

(2007-02-12 18:00:23 SGT) [Biz] Permalink

China's nuclear energy plants to power up

news.xinhuanet.com :

As the world's fastest growing economy and the second largest energy consumer, China is looking more to nuclear power for a balanced mix of energy generating methods. China has become the third-biggest nuclear energy producer in Asia, after Japan and South Korea. Nuclear power has become the third important method of electricity generation in China, following coal power and hydropower.

The country's nine completed nuclear power generating units now account for about 2.3% of the total power output of China. The nation plans to increase nuclear generating capacity to 40 gigawatts by 2020, when nuclear power is projected to account for 4% of the nation's total generating capacity.

Nuclear power is a natural choice for China, Kang Rixin, general manager of the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) said, as it means more balanced development of both the economy and environment. China's uneven geographical distribution of resources causes some difficulties. "Coal, the main energy source in China, is mostly produced in the northern parts of the country and hydropower is mostly found in the Southwest, but power consumption is concentrated in the coastal regions in the east and south. As a clean energy, nuclear power is a good alternative for China," said Kang.

See also :

1. China : Nuclear Leap Forward
2. Asia going nuclear amid rising oil prices, global warming concerns
3. Gas to prop up output in Daqing

(2007-02-12 12:49:55 SGT) [Energy] Permalink Comments [1]

JAL to cut 4300 jobs under revival plan

channelnewsasia.com :

Japan Airlines has announced plans to cut 4,300 jobs over three years as part of a revival plan aimed at returning the carrier to steady profits in the face of high oil prices and sluggish demand. JAL, Asia's largest carrier, said that it aimed to reduce its personnel costs by 50 billion yen (415.3 million dollars) by March 2008, and increase its fuel efficiency through hedging, lighter cabins and other measures.

JAL said that its business was "changing by the minute" in the face of fierce competition and high fuel prices. The airline has also been hit by a series of highly publicised safety scares that sent customers into the arms of rival All Nippon Airways.

See also :

1. More fuel woe for Japan Airlines
2. JAL to raise fuel levies, cut flights

(2007-02-12 12:42:20 SGT) [Biz] Permalink

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