Scotland’s Silicon Glen continues to attract US companies and the latest immigrant is Fremont, California-based Altatron Inc. It is establishing an $8m manufacturing facility, creating 300 jobs over three years. It offers a range of turnkey services from design to maintenance and upgrade from its five manufacturing facilities in California, employing over 650 staff. The privately-owned electric subcontract manufacturer was lured to Scotland by the UK government agency, Locate in Scotland. Its new facility, occupying 45,000 square feet at The Hamilton International Technology Park in Lanarkshire, should be operational by October 1997. Altatron’s vice president of corporate development, Ray Warrington, says: We have been doubling in size in each of the past three years, and the European market provides a unique opportunity to continue this rapid growth. Steve Bennett, Director for Locate in Scotland in North America, comments: The US economy is buoyant and many North American companies are choosing to internationalize. They recognize that Europe offers enormous opportunities and Scotland offers the ideal base from which to serve that market. He adds: It was vital to Altatron to locate in an area which offers excellent distribution and communication channels. Scotland offers worldwide access with three international airports, major motorways and a direct rail link to Europe. Along with the excellent quality of the local electronics supply base, the proximity of so many major companies and a readily available trained workforce, Scotland’s case could not be beaten. Consultants Ernst & Young say that the UK is the number one destination for US high-tech investment and it is where most US companies establish international operations. The most popular destination in the UK is Scotland, according the UK Department of Trade & Industry. In the year to March 1997, Locate in Scotland and the Scottish Office helped attract 86 inward investment projects totaling $5bn. Electronics is the biggest area of inward investment and the sector accounts for more than 43% of Scottish exports.
