HP shuts Sydney plant

Hewlett-Packard has closed its configuration-to-order PC assembly plant in Sydney as part of its consolidation of manufacturing centres throughout the Asia-Pacific.

A spokesperson for the company said about two or three additional plants have been shut down across the Asia-Pacific region and all custom-built PCs will now be shipped directly from Singapore.

HP insisted that this would not affect the time it takes for resellers to get stock and specified that the changes only apply to HP's corporate PC brands, Brio and Vectra. HP's home-oriented Pavilion range has always been supplied from Singapore anyway.

Staff cuts are inevitable, although the vendor refused to specify exact numbers locally. The plant employs approximately 40 staff.

HP said the closure had nothing to do with the proposed merger with Compaq, which is yet to pass due diligence. Compaq currently operates a built-to-order plant in Sydney.