Tandy to Open New Plant in Scotland
FORT WORTH, Texas — June 17, 1991 — Tandy Corp., the largest U.S. manufacturer and retailer of personal computers and consumer electronics, will soon open its first European manufacturing and repair facility.
The new $4.6 million facility is located in East Kilbride, Scotland, in Scotland's famed Silicon Glen.
The plant, which will be Tandy's 30th worldwide, will begin production on Victor's personal computer product line before the end of the year. Victor Technologies markets personal computers and related peripherals, under the Tandy(R), Victor(R), and Grid(R) brand names, through sales subsidiaries in eleven European countries and a network of 2,700 dealers and distributors.
Tandy acquired Victor Technologies in 1989 as part of an ongoing, aggressive campaign to become a global leader in the manufacture and retailing of personal computers and consumer electronics.
''Our new manufacturing facility in Scotland is an integral part of our strategy to manufacture and service our products in Europe,'' said Ulf Ericsson, president of Victor Technologies. ''This process will have increasing significance within Europe after 1992. We will be able to provide the highest levels of quality and customer responsiveness from the Scotland factory.''
Tandy Corp. has acquired a refurbished, 85,000 square foot factory and expects to employ as many as 250 people when the operation is up to full production. The workforce will manufacture, distribute, repair, and service personal computers for the European market.
The new plant will enable Victor Technologies to deliver products, configured and ready to run, in most European countries, within 48 hours.
The move drew praise from the U.S. division of a Scottish economic development group. ''Europe represents a third of the global information technology market,'' said Robert Crawford, director of Locate in Scotland, North America. ''Leading U.S. high technology companies, such as Tandy, are establishing, manufacturing facilities in Scotland to be close to their customers in the expanding European market.
''Tandy joins the ranks of other U.S. electronics giants that have chosen Silicon Glen as their European manufacturing location. We look forward to working with the company in the future.''
Tandy Corp. reported net sales of $4.7 billion for calendar 1990 and employs approximately 40,000 people worldwide. Tandy is well known as an innovative developer, manufacturer, and retailer in the areas of personal computing, audio, video, telephony, magnetic media, and digital technology.
Notes to Editors: Tandy is a registered trademark of Tandy Corp. Victor is a registered trademark of Victor Technologies, AB. Grid is a registered trademark of Grid Systems Corp.
CONTACT:
Tandy Corp., Fort Worth
Ron Trumbla, 817/878-4969