Recommended Free Tools
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Jabil Circuit announced an $80 million greenfield contract-electronics plant in Tiszaújváros, Hungary, in January 2000. Contemporary reports put the planned facility at about 250,000 square feet, but gave different expected completion dates: late spring in one report and September in another.
What Jabil announced
On January 18, 2000, EDN reported that Jabil Circuit Inc. planned to build an $80 million plant in Tiszaújváros (then commonly rendered as Tiszaujvaros), Hungary. The greenfield project was described as Jabil’s first facility in Eastern Europe. At the time, Jabil was a contract electronics manufacturer specializing in printed-circuit-board assembly and computer components.
The announcement concerned a manufacturing site, not a consumer product. Jabil’s role as a contract manufacturer meant the facility would provide electronics manufacturing capacity for customers rather than sell devices under a Jabil consumer brand.
How large was the facility, and when was it expected to open?
Reports published in January 2000 described a planned facility of roughly 250,000 square feet. They did not agree on the completion schedule:
#1 Best Overall
- CE Mark Labels for Compliance Identification: These square labels display the European Conformity CE symbol, helping identify products that meet applicable European safety standards.
- 500 Total 1 Inch Square Labels Per Roll: Each roll includes 500 adhesive CE stickers measuring 1 inch square, providing a dependable supply for product labeling.
- Ideal for Manufacturing and Product Labeling: Perfect for electronics, equipment, tools, machinery, and components that require clear CE marking for identification.
- Easy to Peel and Apply: Stickers peel smoothly from the roll and apply easily to product packaging, equipment surfaces, devices, and manufacturing labels.
- Made in the USA with Durable Label Material: Manufactured in the USA using dependable adhesive and quality label stock designed for consistent use on products and packaging.
| Contemporary report | Reported size | Expected completion |
|---|---|---|
| EDN, January 18, 2000 | About 250,000 square feet | Late spring |
| EE Times, January 26, 2000 | 250,000 square feet | September |
These were expectations reported at the time, not confirmation of the actual opening date. The reports appeared only days apart, so the available contemporary accounts leave the schedule discrepancy unresolved.
Why build in Hungary?
The move was part of Jabil’s broader expansion of outsourced electronics manufacturing capacity. A Central European site gave the company a regional production base as contract manufacturers sought lower-cost locations closer to customers and markets. EDN quoted Advest analyst Thomas A. Moro saying, “Eastern Europe has become attractive to North American CEMs looking for strategic low cost manufacturing.”
Rank #2
A later capacity report described construction at the Tiszaújváros site and quoted Merrill Lynch analyst Jerry Labowitz: “We expect the investment in the [Hungary] facility will be about $15 million to $20 million and grow to $80 million over the next five years.” That forecast distinguished an initial investment from the eventual $80 million figure; it should not be read as a separately confirmed final accounting of project spending. EDN’s capacity report framed the construction as evidence of demand for Jabil’s manufacturing services.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →What became of the Tiszaújváros operation?
Later records indicate the project became a continuing Hungarian manufacturing operation. Jabil’s global entities directory lists Jabil Circuit Magyarország Szerződéses Gyártó Kft. at Huszár Andor út 1, H-3580 Tiszaújváros, Hungary.
The Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency (HIPA) says the Hungarian subsidiary began operations in 2000. In its account of a logistics-development project, HIPA describes the Tiszaújváros factory as Jabil’s largest manufacturing facility in Europe and third largest worldwide, and reports almost 3,500 staff at a 54,000-square-metre factory. Those figures describe the operation in HIPA’s account, not the facility’s reported size or staffing at the January 2000 announcement. HIPA’s account provides that later context.
The U.S. Department of State’s 2001 Hungary Country Commercial Guide also listed $80 million in Jabil Circuit foreign capital invested in electronic equipment. This is a subsequent government record, distinct from the original news reports of the planned investment.
Rank #4
For scale only, Jabil’s current global locations overview reports 120+ manufacturing sites, 30+ countries, and 35M+ square feet across its network. These are current company-wide figures, not measures of the 2000 Hungarian project.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
