Intel Leixlip jobs on alert as Apple moves away
APPLE has made the decision to stop using Intel chips in its products in a fresh threat to jobs at the Leixlip plant.
The move could hit production demand at Leixlip in Co Kildare, which employs 4,500 workers and was recently subject to a €4bn upgrade to produce next generation chips.
About one-in-10 of the world’s 160 million annual laptop sales is a MacBook. Apple currently uses Intel chips in all of its iMac and MacBook products. The world’s biggest company is reportedly responsible for 5pc of Intel’s revenue.
But Bloomberg last night reported that Apple is expected to phase in the chip replacement from 2020.
Apple is reportedly set to start making its own PC chips.
A spokesman for Intel was unavailable for comment on the latest reports.
Intel recently laid off a number of its staff in a global initiative to reduce its workforce by 11pc. Despite dominating the PC and laptop business, it has been hit by missing out on the global smartphone business.
Sales of PCs and laptops have struggled in recent years compared with smartphones.
The silicon giant was also recently affected by the discovery of serious design flaws in chip architecture as part of the global ‘Meltdown’ and ‘Spectre’ controversies.