JOBS at the Limerick Dell campus are under the spotlight after the computer giant wrapped up the largest technology deal in history when it acquired EMC.
JOBS at the Limerick Dell campus are under the spotlight after the computer giant wrapped up the largest technology deal in history when it acquired EMC.The move now calls into question the standing of more than 5,000 jobs between the two firms who have significant operations in Ireland.
In Limerick, Dell has an EMEA solutions centre that provides support for server and storage customers employing some 900 people and in April 2015, the firm announced it would be adding a further 100 research and development posts
The firm’s European financial services headquarters are in Dublin, while in Cork, it has its high-tech multilingual EMEA business and technology centre.
Dell employs 2,300 in Ireland and EMC has 3,000 employees on its books.
However the future of the Limerick jobs is again under the spotlight as the computer giant restructures itself.
In 2009, Dell transferred its manufacturing to Poland with the devastating loss of 1,900 jobs in Limerick.
Following the historic acquisition, the Dell boss declined to estimate as to job losses saying that “there are some overlapping functions and that sort of thing – that’s not the primary feature of this, but there is some of that.”
“We are planning to put our server business into the EMC enterprise data centre business,” said Michael Dell after the acquisition.
The deal, which was announced last year, is estimated to be worth $67bn and unites one of the leading manufacturers of personal and server computers and the leading provider of key storage products.
Dell Technologies said that it plans to invest $4.5bn a year in research and development as the company aims to expand in the “Internet of things”.
“We are at the dawn of the next industrial revolution,” according to Mr Dell.
“Our world is becoming more intelligent and more connected by the minute, and ultimately will become intertwined with a vast Internet of Things, paving the way for our customers to do incredible things,” said Mr Dell.
Niall Collins, Fianna Fail Spokesperson on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation said
that the merger between EMC and Dell has left many local Dell workers in Limerick worrying for their livelihoods and their futures.
“There are reports locally that the merger will result in a restructuring of the global workforce numbers of both companies.
“Minister Mitchell O’Connor, and the IDA, must do everything within their power to safeguard the jobs of all Dell employees in Limerick and Ireland.”
“While it was a hammer blow to the local economy when Dell relocated its Limerick based manufacturing facility to Poland in 2008, the computer maker has since re-established a significant employment footprint with over 1,000 skilled jobs at its innovative high tech Limerick campus,” said Collins.
“I will be asking the Minister to outline, and clarify, what steps are being taken by her department to safeguard all existing jobs in Limerick and other locations as well as providing an update on discussions she and the IDA have had with senior Dell management since the merger was announced,” concluded Collins.
