Secondary Economic Activities

• Inputs


  • Workers
  • Money capital
  • Raw materials
• Processes


  1. Carving

  2. Assembling
• Outputs


  • Semi-finished products
  • Finished products
• Raw materials


  • If the raw materials needed by a factory are big and heavy, the factory may need to be located close to them
• Markets


  • Factories located close to their markets can transport their products quickly and they have lower transportation costs
• Transport facilities


  • All factories need to transport their finished products to the market. If it's in the same country, good rail or road transport is required. If the company is exporting goods, it may also need to be close to an airport or port. This reduces transportation costs.
• Labour force


  • Factories must be built where there are enough workers, usually near towns and cities. Some factories may locate next to universities or colleges if they need highly skilled graduates.
• Services


  • Factories need access to services like electricity, water, sewage treatment, waste disposal, telephone, broadband and wifi. This is why industrial estates are attractive to companies.
• Government policy


  • The Irish Government gives grants to help companies set up here.
• Personal preferences


  • Some people may set up a factory in an area where they come from or an area they like.
• Heavy industry


  Both the raw materials and the products being made are big and heavy e.g. iron and steel
• Light industry


  Products being made in a light industry are small and light e.g. electronic products and healthcare products
• Rusal Aughinish Alumina


  • Produces alumina out of the raw material bauxite. Alumina is a semi-finished product used to make aluminium. The alumina is exported by ship to aluminium smelters in the UK and Scandinavia.
• Reasons for Rusal Aughinish Alumina's location

  • Raw materials: Bauxite is the main material used in making alumina. It is a bulky, heavy material that comes from the Republic of Guinea. It is shipped to the Shannon Estuary where there is a deep water port. Transport: The deep-water port allows for heavy cargo ships to dock and transport bauxite to the factory and alumina to smelters around Europe. Labour force: There are more than 450 people employed at the factory, mostly from nearby towns.
• Inputs for Rusal Aughinish Alumina

  • Bauxite
  • Caustic soda
  • Electricity
  • Workers
• Processes at Rusal Aughinish Alumina

  Bauxite is crushed and mixed with caustic soda and then heated
• Outputs from Rusal Aughinish Alumina

  • Alumina powder
  • Waste
• Apple's location in Hollyhill, Cork City

  • Apple produces information technology (IT) products such as computers, iPads and phones. They employ 6,000 workers in Cork City. The Cork City plant is the operational headquarters for Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
• Reasons for Apple's location in Cork

  • Corporation tax: Ireland's low corporation tax encouraged Apple to locate here, and that low corporation tax has kept the company in place. The fact that Ireland is a member of the EU means Apple can locate its European headquarters here and make use of the free movement of goods. Transport: Its proximity to the Port of Cork and Cork Airport means goods can be shipped worldwide at a lower cost. Labour force: Being close to UCC and CIT means there is a steady supply of skilled graduates available.
• Footloose industry


  Many manufacturing industries can set up in a variety of locations. They are not tied to one place and so they are called footloose industries. They are usually light industries and are often located in industrial estates or business parks close to large cities (brownfield sites).
• Greenfield site


  A plot of land with no services or buildings. The entrepreneur would need to set up everything.
• Industrial estates


  • Sites at the edge of urban areas that are set aside to be used by industries. Land is cheaper than in the middle of towns and cities so there is space to build and expand. They provide a high level of services like water, waste and high-speed broadband connection. Located within easy access to motorways, providing quick transport to airports, ports and markets.
• Industrial inertia


  When an industry does not relocate, even though it might make economic sense to do so.
• Multinational corporations (MNCs)


  Make their products in many different countries. Their headquarters are located in one country and then they have branches in other countries throughout the world.
• Conflict may arise between factory owners and the inhabitants of the area

  Industry and conflict
• Incinerators


  Factories that burn waste
• Positives of incinerators


  • Landfill sites are filling up. Incinerators are seen as a sustainable solution to waste management.
  • Jobs can be created from the building and maintenance of an incinerator.
• Negatives of incinerators


  • They can be seen as an easy option for getting rid of rubbish.
  • People living in the areas fear that the fumes can be carcinogenic.