Industry Case Studies.
Footloose Industries. M4 corridor.

Likely to be next to Motorways such as M11, M23 also known as Sunrise
industries.

Greatest concentration along M4 and M3 to the west of London esp between
London and Redding.

Many light industries are located in this are such a food companies, micro
electronic companies some examples are NEC and Oracle.

Due to location next to motorways it would seem that transport is a key factor in
location. As the industries use components that have no great weight to them
transport is more important the location close to raw materials.

The large important market of London is close by which is important for sales.

The Motorway network close by means good transport links to the rest of the
country. For example South Wales and the channel tunnel.

The availability of highly skilled labor is an advantage. The area is close to
several universities such as Oxford.

History of aerospace research in area further enhances highly skilled work force.
The Rhine-Ruhr region of Germany.

The most populous German State with 18 million peoples living in the region. The
river Rhine runs through the region. The largest town is Cologne with a
population of 1 million people. This area has the single largest concentration of
Industry in the EU.

Traditionally the most important industry was Coal mining. Other Secondary
industries, which depended upon it such as, steel making and textiles are also
important. Today oil refining is important along with food processing.

Reasons for industrial growth in the area. Ruhr coalfield is Europe’s
largest. The amount of high quality coal attracted industry. Heavy industries are
large consumers of energy locating next to the coalfield saved upon transport
costs.

Due to the large concentration of industries between Duisburg and Dortmand they
created there own market. Small companies and lighter industries benefit from
being in the area of Germanys largest internal market.

River Rhine can be used for transport as it has direct access to the North Sea.
Convoys of Push barges can move 9000 tones at a time. It costs less to transport
bulky goods by barge.

Industrial change since 1950. Decline in this coal mining region has not
been as great as else where in Europe’s coal mining areas Because:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Amount and quality of Ruhr coal.
The productivity and prosperity of German Industry.
Central position of region with in EU
River Rhine water links.
 However there have been changes such as
1. Decline of number of workers in heavy industry eg the number of minners
dropped from half a million and more in 1950 to less then 100 000 in 1995.
Government subsidies have been responsible for keeping the number this high.
2. Non tradition manufacturing industries now established such as car building.
3. Rise of telecommunications sector esp in Cologne which has 130,000 jobs in the
media sector.
 The main problems are
1. Unemployment
2. Over dependence on mining and heavy industries.
3. Environmental problems such as water pollution.
Industry in an LEDC South Korea.

In 40 years South Korea has gone from being a very poor country to one of the top
10 industrialized countries in the world but why?
1. A cheap labour force willing to work long hours
2. All most every part of south Korea is with in 100km of the sea for cheap sea
transport.
3. Its main market is the pacific ring (USA, Japan and Hong Kong)
4. Protected home market.
5. Government policy of protectionism through trade barriers and tarrifs.

30 Chaebol (Korean for larger corporations) are responsible of three quarters of
industrial output. The largest ones are active in several areas of industry. For
example Samsung, Hyundai and LG
Decline and changing location. Iron and steel in South Wales.

1860 = 35 iron works in South Wales. These produced a great deal of air and
noise pollution. Whole communities were dependent upon the ironworks.

1.
2.
3.
4.
South Wales was perfect for iron making as;
Coal and Iron ore often found together = cheap transport.
Limestone quarried nearby.
Fast flowing mountain rivers powered early water wheels.
Valleys led to coastal ports for export.

In 1856 new techniques meant it was better to make steel rather then the
previously brittle iron.

After 1860 steelworks began to replace Iron foundries.

1990 = 2 steel works left. Located not in the Valleys but on the coast at Port
Talbot and Llanwern. This was because many of the initial advantages had
disappeared from the area only coal mining remained open in the area.

Modern steel works built at break of bulk location, which is where goods have to
be transferred from one transport type to another. It made sense to unload goods
into steel works then transport it still further.

As most of the raw material is now shipped in from abroad (less expensive to buy
from abroad then produce in the UK) plants such as Port Talbot have there own
port. Port Talbot is one of only 4 remaining integrated steel works in the UK. Its
products can be used for things such as the manufacture of car bodies.

The decision to locate at Port Talbot was made by the Government. Whether it
stays open is likely to be down to the EU.

Market demand and Government policies are now more important then 19th
century natural physical advantages. An example of Government policy is the
Ford engine plant at Bridgend, which was built with £70 million of government
funding. The industrial estate that was setup was also funded by the government
and due to its location has attracted inward investment from many German and
Japanese companies. The government also helped set up the Welsh Development
Agency to help market the area and so attract further inward investment.
Legislation to Clean up the Environment.

Pollution moves across national boundaries, for example the acid rain that causes
damage to Scandinavian forests can be traced back to British power stations.
Pollution is an international issue and therefore need international action.

In the table below is an example of an international agreement on Pollution the
Montreal Protocol.

Ozone eroding gas

Uses


CFCs

Refrigeration, airconditioning, aerosols

Controls under 1990
Protocol
Completely phased out
by 2000

Halons


Some scientists don’t think that these levels are stringent enough, while some
Governments from LEDCs think it is unfair that chemicals that allowed MEDCs
to develop refrigeration cheaply are now banned from being used.

The UK emits far more sulphur dioxide then any other EU country. The following
were put in place to help control sulphur dioxide emissions.
Fire extinguishers

All Phased out by 2000
except for essential
safety uses.
 International Control- Directive of the EU 1988. Large
Plant Directive 9 power stations and factories)

Using 1980 as the base line the directive calls for the following cuts:




By 1993 minus 20%
By 1995 minus 40%
By 2003 minus 60%
These targets were mainly to be met by scrubbing the gasses, which means taking
the sulpher out of the emissions using a device called flue gas desulpherrization
plants.

Vehicle emissions directive- calls for 30% cut in emissions of oxides of nitrogen
and hydrocarbons later increased to 70%. All new cars should have catalytic
converters.

Global warming The climate change summit in Japan
December 1997.
 Requirements of the treaty.

MEDCS must cut emissions of Carbon dioxide and five other gasses by 2012 so
they are 5.2% lower than 1990.

LEDCS do not have to make any cuts unless they want to.

Penalties will be decided upon later.
Industry in A LEDC South East Brazil.
Children who are often under 10 years old make up a large proportion of the workers
in the informal sector. There are few schools to go and so often try to supplement the
family income by working on the streets.
In Rio there are many people working in the informal sector. The area along the
famous Copacabana beach in Rio is rife with activities from the informal sector. The
vendors are often selling sun hats and sunglasses on the beach. They will often be
selling fruit such as pineapples and a local drink called mate, which is sold out of
large metal drums.
On the streets around the Copacabana beach there are many more people selling
things from shuttlecocks to cheap jewelry and T-shirts.
Other young people also have taken to shining shoes and selling roses outside some
of Rio’s famous Samba shows.
Managing Resources
Itaipu Brazil

In 1992 a dam was completed across the River Parana at Itaipu on the border of
Brazil and Paraguay. The lake behind the dam is 180 km long and 5km wide.
There are 18 turbines which make it the worlds largest HEP scheme

Although a joint scheme between Brazil and Paraguay, Paraguay recives its needs
from only one turbine with Brazil buying the rest at reduced cost and transporting
to Sao Paulo area.