Pioneer to cut 2 000 jobs
Japanese audio visual equipment maker Pioneer will cut 2 000 jobs, or 5% of its workforce, in Japan and abroad by the end of March 2009, in a bid to turn around its loss-making plasma television business, reports Forbes.
The decision follows the company's announcement in March to pull out of flat-panel production altogether.
Pioneer, which also makes car navigation systems, agreed with Matsushita Electric Industrial last month to team up in development and production of plasma TVs. The job cuts are expected to come mainly from plasma TV and panel operations, namely three domestic plants in Kagoshima, Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures, the business daily said.
AV companies merge
A merger between Audio Visual Innovations and Signal Perfection has created AVI-SPL, a new company headquartered in Tampa, states Bizjournals.
Financial terms of the merger were not disclosed. It was supported with equity financing from Silver Lake Sumeru, which pursues private investments in middle-market technology companies, a release said.
AVI-SPL, which the release described as the largest provider of global audio video systems and integration services, has more than 1 200 employees in more than 40 offices across the US, Mexico and Dubai.
$430 000 grant for AV programme
Lone Star College-Montgomery's new audio visual systems specialist (AVSS) programme, the first such academic programme in the state of Texas, recently received a $430 000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), says Woodlands Online.
The grant will help the programme develop an educational pathway for AVSS students to earn jobs with such organisations as conference centres, hotels, sports arenas, churches and other venues requiring integrated, high technology communication needs.
The three-year NSF grant will provide state-of-the-art audio visual equipment for the programme, salaries for faculty and support staff, as well as funds to conduct workshops and training to encourage similar programme start-ups at other institutions.
Share
