14 DAY TRIAL // Sharp's status as a world-class technology player has been slipping for months, with the number of projected job cuts growing almost by the week.
The last time we heard something about the matter, 11,000 jobs were going to be sacrificed, on top of the previous ones.
Those who have been keeping up to date on such things may also know that the corporation intends to sell some assets and shut others down.
It turns out that the solar panel manufacturing in Europe and the United States will be reduced, perhaps discontinued completely.
The resources will be diverted to Japan and other Asian markets, where Sharp hopes to increase its share from 30% to 40% in 2013, although the report says that four solar cell plants from Japan will be sold as well.
This may still be a good mid- to long-term tactic though. Sharp does, after all, intend to turn the Sakai City, Osaka plant into the main facility for such things. At least layoffs will be avoided this time (the extra workforce will be shifted to other departments).