Geography - Secondary Activities - Ch 8

Secondary Activities

Making or manufacturing something

System

Inputs - process - output

Two different outputs

Semi finished + finished

Semi finished

Something like a wood plank that can go back through the system to make something like a table.

Finished

A finished product is something that would go through the system again. Like a table or a book.

Input

Worker, money, raw materials, electricity, water.

Process

Measuring, cutting, welding, carving.

Outputs

product, waste.

How many manufacturing companies in Ireland?

4000

How many are employed directly?

200,000

How many are employed indirectly?

400,000

How much were exports worth in 2016?

117 billion

Factors that influence the location

Raw Materials, Market, Transport facilities, Labour force, Services, Government Policy, Personal Preference.

Raw materials

Big + heavy, factory needs to be close to them to make transport easier + cheaper.

Market

Near markets so they can transport products quicker + save money.

Transport facilities

If exporting better to be near a port or airport to reduce transport costs.

Labour force?

Factories built where here are enough workers, usually towns or cities or colleges because they want a young and smart workforce.

Services?

Needs water, electricity, water, sewage, waste disposal, telephone broadband and WIFI. Industrial estates are attractive.

Government policy?

Government encourages people to set up in their country. Irish government gives grants to help them set up.

Personal preference?

Industry may just set up purely because of preference. Like how Ford located in Cork because the father of their founder, henry ford, was born there.

IDA?

Industrial development authority, try to attract industry in Ireland.

Corporation tax?

Ireland has an attractively low corporation tax of 12.5%. This brings in lots of industry.

Heavy industry?

Large heavy materials + products. Iron and steel are an example.

Light industry?

Products that are small and light, like beauty products or phones.

Heavy Industry case study?

RUSAL, Aughinish Alumina

Location of this heavy industry?

Aughinish Island in the Shannon Estuary near Limerick city

Function of this heavy industry?

Produce Alumina

What is Alumina?

A white powder used to make aluminium

What is Alumina made of?

Bauxite

How is Alumina made?

Bauxite is crushed and mixed with Caustic Soda and then heated.

Where is the alumina shipped?

UK and Scandinavia

How much Alumina do they produce a year?

1.9 tons

How many employees in this heavy industry?

450

When did this heavy industry start?

1983

Reasons for this heavy industries location?

Raw materials, Market, Transport, Labour force, Aughinish Island

Raw materials (RAA)

Bauxite is heavy, is from Guinea Africa. Ships needs deep water port. Good to let containers load and unload easily.

Market (RAA)

Ireland is a member of the EU + it is close to European markets.

Transport (RAA)

Deep water port means that they can transport around Europe. N69 connects limerick city to the Shannon Airport.

Labour Force (RAA)

People can come from nearby towns. Like Foynes, Askeaton, Kildimo, Rathkeale, Newcastle west. Ireland is also english speaking.

Auginish Island

Space to store bulky materials, raw materials, dangerous materials, finished product, and waste. It is also distant enough from the population meaning less visual + noise population.

Inputs (RAA)

Bauxite, caustic soda, workers, electricity.

Process (RAA)

Bauxite is crushed and then mixed with caustic soda and then heated.

Outputs (RAA)

Alumina powder, Waste.

Disadvantages of living near heavy industry.

Visual Pollution, Noise pollution, Water pollution, Environment pollution, Can create by products.

Leachate

A liquid that contaminates water sources and causes harm against humans and animals.

Footloose industry

Industries that are not tied to one place, can locate anywhere because not tied to factors like raw materials. They are usually light industries.

Industrial estates

Sites on the edge of urban areas. Land is cheaper and there is enough space to build and expand. Also a high level of services. Lots of businesses in a close proximity.

Industrial Inertia

When an industry does not relocate even though it may make economic sense to do so. It's normally because their name is closely linked to the area.

MCN

Multinational Corporations. Make their products in many different countries, many branches. One HQ in one country. Buy + sell across the world because of globalisation.

Example of Industrial estate

Sandyford industrial estate

Industrial inertia example

Sheffield, England, Long standing reputation of steel production.

MCN example

Nike, Google, Cadburys.

Conflict

Conflict may arise between factory owners + inhabitants of the surrounding area because people fear the gas + smoke emission could damage their healthy + the environment.

FDI

Foreign direct investment, When multinational companies locate their bases in other countries, including Ireland.

Incinerator example

Incinerators built by Cavanta, in Poolbeg, Dublin.

Incinerator

Factories that burn waste, locals always protest.

Positives of an incinerator

-Landfills overflowing, sustainable waste management.
-Provide electricity for surrounding areas. Sustainable energy source.
-Jobs created, building + maintaining.

Negatives

-Other options of waste are not being considered enough.
-Fumes are poisonous + carcinogenic.
-Smoke + other emissions contribute to smog, acid rain + greenhouse gases, lead to global warming.

Carcinogenic

Something with potential to cause cancer.

Capital

Money used to found a factory.