14 DAY TRIAL // Apple partner Foxconn has confirmed that its Chengdu factory is back online with improvements made to the workshop ventilation, new policies for aluminum dust disposal, and adoption of new safety technologies.
The Chengdu facility is one of the Foxconn plants used to make Apple's second-generation iPads.
The Chinese electronics maker has provided a statement to All Things D, where it reveals that “Following the tragic explosion in one of the polishing workshops in our Chengdu campus on Friday, May 20, we carried out a detailed and thorough review of all related safety policies and procedures in the polishing workshops of all other Foxconn operations.”
[ADMARK=1[Foxconn says their investigation into the tragic explosion is ongoing, and that they “have addressed the preliminary finding, that the accident was likely due to an explosion of aluminum dust in a ventilation duct, by putting in place improvements in workshop ventilation, a total revamping of the policies and practices related to the disposal of that dust, and through the application of new technologies that will further enhance the safety in these workshops.”
According to Foxconn officials, “a review and assessment in determining the enhancements covered the areas from the actual polishing work that is done by high-tech robots to the disposal of the aluminum dust that is a by-product of that process.”
The company that assembles Apple’s iPhones and iPads is now employing new measures in its workshops to address safety.
These constitute what Foxconn calls “a direct response to our efforts to ensure that we are applying the highest possible safety practices.”
“Should the investigation identify any additional areas where enhancements could be made, we will not hesitate to immediately implement those measures,” Foxconn also said.
Finally, the company confirmed in its official statement that the Chengdu plant has resumed operation “following the review referred to above.”