Apple has opened a new multi-million euro engineering and testing facility alongside its existing operations in Cork, Ireland. The new facility will test and analyze the tech giant’s products for the whole of Europe.
Apple’s new testing center in Ireland is its third-such facility in the world
Located in the former Banta warehouse complex which the Cupertino tech giant acquired in 2020, engineers and technicians at the facility will be using high-end equipment including CT scanners and electron microscopes to test products, reports the Irish Examiner.
The testing facility center is the third such site in the world operated by Apple and cost cost tens of millions of euros to convert. The company also employed 300 workers for its redevelopment. While the original structure of the warehouse is preserved, the company has renovated the internals.
Apple VP of European Operations Cathy Kearny said the new facility is based in Cork because of the expertise built up in the area over the last 40 years as well as the talent within the reigion’s 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.”
“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.”
Kearny also highlighted other research operations in Cork including artificial intelligence and machine learning (AIML). “So the new engineering and test facility and teams like AIML are really exciting additions to the work we do in Cork,” the VP continued. “It’s really good to see all of the skills we’re building here and how it links into the work that was already here.”
The opening of the new facility coincides with thousands of Apple workers returning to work following more than two years of working from home. Employees will now work through a hybrid model that involves up to three in the office per week.
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