Some 175 new jobs for Waterford are to be announced today in an expansion by aerospace manufacturer AlliedSignal. The Tanaiste, Ms Harney, is to announce the development at the company's plant. Waterford is to become the company's worldwide centre of excellence for a certain type of jet engine component, underpinning the long-term future of the facility.

The company is to invest more than £22 million (#28 million) in the new expansion programme, which will lead to 130 jobs over three years, with the full 175 jobs coming on stream within five years. AlliedSignal has three operations in Waterford, the aerospace airfoil plant - the subject of the current expansion - employs 143 people and manufactures blades and veins for aircraft engines. A precision casting plant employs 376 people and a software centre employs 50 people. Based in New Jersey, the company had revenues last year of $15.1 billion (#13.03 billion).

(# - Euro)