Toshiba to Close Osaka Refrigerator Plant

By Kyodo News International, Tokyo

Feb. 16–TOKYO — Toshiba Corp. said Friday it will close its refrigerator plant in Ibaraki, Osaka Prefecture, in March 2008 as part of efforts to improve the competitiveness of its household electrical products.

Manufacturing operations will be transferred from the plant to China, Toshiba said.

The company also plans to move development work to another plant in Seto, Aichi Prefecture.

Some 500 employees at the Osaka plant will be transferred to the Aichi plant and other operations in the Toshiba group.

Toshiba will designate the Aichi plant as a global production and development center for refrigerators and other “white goods.”

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