Foxconn Technology Group has become the latest in a string of companies to replace a large number of workers with robots, as the Taiwanese electronics manufacturer has eliminated an incredible 60,000 jobs in favor of automation.

“The Foxconn factory has reduced its employee strength from 110,000 to 50,000, thanks to the introduction of robots,” Xu Yulian, head of publicity for the Kunshan region, told the South China Morning Post. “It has tasted success in reduction of labour costs. More companies are likely to follow suit.”

Foxconn assembles electronics devices for a wide range of companies, including both Apple and Dell, but there is no indication yet as to whether or not this will affect their productions directly.

In a statement to the BBC, Foxconn expanded on Xu Yulian’s comments, saying:

“We are applying robotics engineering and other innovative manufacturing technologies to replace repetitive tasks previously done by employees, and through training, also enable our employees to focus on higher value-added elements in the manufacturing process, such as research and development, process control and quality control.

“We will continue to harness automation and manpower in our manufacturing operations, and we expect to maintain our significant workforce in China.”

While the sheer number of jobs lost to automation in Foxconn’s factories may seem overwhelming, the company has a bit of a sour reputation as far as working conditions are concerned. In 2010, both Apple and Dell conducted their own investigations into the conditions of Foxconn’s factories after a string of nine worker suicides within the span of one year. Nearly all of these suicides were committed by leaping from the factory dormitory building.

Foxconn has also previously made headlines for an explosion that occurred in a factory in Chengdu in the Sichuan province of China. The cause of the explosion was determined to be aluminum dust in the air, which is a byproduct of the process used to polish iPhone cases.

Photo by jeffedoe