SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY : Toshiba’s Irvine Unit Begins Shipping 2 New Portable Personal Computers

Toshiba recently began shipping two new portable personal computer products from its Irvine plant, bringing to six the number of computers made there.

The new products are the T5100 and T3200 portable personal computers. The 5100 is Toshiba’s most powerful portable PC. The 15-pound model is powered by Intel’s superfast 80386 microprocessor and is said to be compatible with IBM’s Personal System/2 personal computers. It retails for $7,499. The 3200 is also powered by the Intel chip, weighs 19-pounds and retails for $5,799.

The 5100s and 3200s that are made in Irvine will be sold in the United States.

Toshiba, which began producing its first personal computers in Irvine in July, 1987, began expanding local production as part of a response to growing trade pressures, the decline in the U.S. dollar relative to the Japanese yen and increased demand for its products. The company has also been trying to move manufacturing closer to its markets.

Toshiba’s Irvine plant also manufactures telecommunications equipment and medical equipment.

“The (portable computer) market both in general and for our products has been very strong,” said Tom Sherrard of Toshiba product marketing. He said Toshiba had its highest sales volume ever for portable PCs last month.

Toshiba employs 518 people in Irvine. The increase in personal computer production has boosted employment in Irvine by about 100 during the past six months.