Infineon to establish new Customer Centre in Dublin

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Harney T.D., announced today (Tuesday 1^st July 2003) that Infineon Technologies AG of Germany, a leading company in the worldwide semiconductor industry, is to establish a Customer Logistics Management Centre, one of three such competence centres Europe-wide, at its existing premises at Fitzwilliam Lane, Dublin.

The Centre, supported by IDA Ireland, will service Infineon's key European corporate clients. It results from the company's centralisation of its existing European customer services operations, a total of 19 centres, into three locations - Dublin, Kista (Sweden) and its headquarters in Munich.

Making the announcement the Tánaiste said: "This is a significant coup for Ireland in winning such a strategic investment from a world leading company of the status of Infineon. In these difficult times for companies in the IT sector it is a major endorsement for Ireland and its reputation as a successful and competitive location for such global investments. When fully operational the Centre will employ 30 people, 12 of these will be recruited by this September. The jobs will be for third level diploma graduates in logistics, sales and marketing. They will work with customers in managing the supply chain from initial product planning right through to delivery. Recruitment is to commence immediately."

Infineon was ranked as No. 6 in the semiconductor industry in 2002. It was founded in 1999 when the semiconductor operations of its parent company Siemens AG were spun off to form a separate legal entity. It designs, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of semiconductors and complete systems solutions used in a wide variety of microelectronic applications, including computer systems, telecom systems, consumer goods, automotive products, industrial automation and control systems and chip-card applications.

Mr. Fred Tyler, Managing Director, Infineon Technologies Ireland Limited, said, "Dublin was chosen as a location for one of the centres because of the quality of staff we know will be available for recruitment, the availability of sufficient capacity in our existing premises to house the Centre and the ability of a fast start-up as a result. With our diversified product range and the steps we have taken to rationalise our global operations we are well placed to take advantage of the recovery in the semiconductor business when it comes and the Irish operation will play a key role in this success."

About Infineon

Infineon has two existing operations in Dublin - a sales and support office, employing 9 people, to service its Irish clients and a software development company - Guardeonic Solutions - employing 40 people specialising in security products such as secure messaging and electronic data interchange.

Infineon has a strong base of technology and experience, having been involved in the development, manufacture and marketing of semiconductors since 1952, when within the Siemens Group. It employs 30,000 people at 10 factories in five countries and with revenues of over €5 billion it maintains a top three position in all its target markets.

ENDS