Apple has increased its presence in Europe by opening a new product testing facility in Cork, Ireland. Apple’s Hollyhill campus in Cork, which is a former Banta warehouse complex that Apple bought in 2020, will be used to inspect product using a number of methods.
Engineers and technicians working at the facility will be using equipment including electron microscopes and CT scanners to examine products, reports the Irish Examiner. The facility will be used to find potential ways to improve the durability or performance of Apple’s products.
The testing center, Apple’s third in the world, has cost tens of millions of euros to convert for Apple’s purposes, as well as employing 300 workers for its redevelopment.
Apple VP of European Operations Cathy Kearny said the new center is based in Cork due to the 40-year history, the expertise in the area, and the quality of the existing Cork team.
“It’s a natural evolution from all the investments in recent years,” said Kearny. “The focus of this facility is to ensure the best product, durability, and performance, and the lab team here will be testing and analyzing Apple’s entire range of products. This facility is the first of its kind in Europe and we are delighted to have it here in Cork.”
Kearny also discussed other research operations Apple has based in Cork, including artificial intelligence and machine learning. “We started that team in late 2019. In the height of COVID, that team has grown to over 680 people and continues to grow. It’s a really, really diverse team with over 20 nationalities and a huge variety of experiences.”
“So the new engineering and test facility and teams like AIML are really exciting additions to the work we do in Cork,” Kearny continued. “It’s really good to see all of the skills we’re building here and how it links in to the work that was already here.”
(Via AppleInsider)