ROCHESTER, NY (voa) – U.S. photography giant Eastman Kodak says it will eliminate 1,300-1,700 jobs, as part of previously announced cost-cutting efforts.
The company says it will cut about 150 jobs at its U.S.-based research and development organizations and streamline the Global Manufacturing Logistics Unit. It will also close and shift production of a one-time-use camera operation in Rochester, New York, to plants in China and Mexico.
In addition, Kodak says it will shut down a sensitizing operation, which prepares film and photographic paper, in Mexico next April and transfer the work to plants in the United States and Britain. The company says the restructuring will contribute to the $200 million in annual savings Kodak outlined in October.
In other business news, U.S. manufacturing conglomerate, 3M, has agreed to buy Corning’s unit, Corning Precision Lens, for $850 million in cash. Corning says the proceeds from the deal will pay down debt and increase contributions to its U.S. pension plan.
Corning Precision Lens is the largest worldwide manufacturer of lens systems for rear-projection televisions. Sales at Corning Precision Lens for 2002 are expected to be $260 million.
3M says display components represent a multi-billion-dollar growth opportunity, with the huge market in digital videodiscs (DVDs) and high-definition television (HDTVs).
