The recent heavy flooding that has devastated parts of Thailand over the last month or so has had a grave effect on the country’s technology base and its ability to manufacture and export its products. Seagate Technology PLC, who have several large manufacturing plants in the country for their renowned hard drives, have said that while the factories remain open for business at the minute they are finding it hard to get a hold of certain parts and, as such, their production is being heavily affected.
Similarly, Western Digital Corp, another hard drive manufacturer, admitted that it too is having production problems and their annual income from their Thailand base is expected to be disrupted and production down for the rest of the year as a result. Furthermore, Fabrinet – a company that specialises in providing parts and services for optical, electro-mechanical and electronic manufacturing companies – has admitted that its base in Chokchai is likely to be closed for the rest of the year as a floods infiltrated the plant and submerged much of the equipment although the organization has said that it is expanding its production in China to help meet demand.
Many experts have admitted, such is the severity of the floods that it could take several years before the technological base in the country is as productive as it was before and many companies are expected to be several limited in their functions for the next few months with some even not being able to work at all.