Plant with plans for 400 jobs to cut down to 20

A computer manufacturing plant in Waterford has announced it will lay off 30 people by the end of the year, stating that time…

A computer manufacturing plant in Waterford has announced it will lay off 30 people by the end of the year, stating that time was running out for new business opportunities to save the operation.

Nypro Waterford was opened in 2001 when it was announced that up to 400 jobs would be created at the plant. However, the jobs never materialised.

Nypro Waterford, which has its head office in the US, is phasing out existing jobs in Waterford, leaving only 20 employees at the plant.

Yesterday Nypro Waterford stated the 30 people would be laid off in the November/December timeframe due to a previously announced cutback by a major customer. Manufacturing for this customer would cease.

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The cutback was due to the global restructuring by that major customer, which had resulted in no demand for products being manufactured at the plant, it said.

The chief executive of Nypro Inc, Mr Brian Jones, said: "We continue to look for new business opportunities for this operation but time is running out."

Nypro is a global provider of precision plastics injection moulding, design and engineering services and related manufacturing solutions.

It operates at 60 locations in 17 countries, including Wales, France, Germany and Hungary.

The Waterford plant has a sister company, Nypro Ltd, in Bray, Co Wicklow.

When the €16.5 million Waterford company was opened in September 2001, the Tánaiste and then minister for enterprise, trade and employment, Ms Harney, said Nypro's decision to locate in Waterford was a tremendous boost for the region, and that the 400 jobs would provide other spin-off benefits for local service industries.

The plant started with 90 staff. The 400 jobs were to be created over the following four years.

The news follows the announcement last month by cable-manufacturing company Kromberg & Schurbert (Ireland) Ltd that it would cease operations in December with the loss of 75 jobs.

The Waterford Industrial Estate-based company said at the beginning of October it had continued to invest in manufacturing equipment, resources and logistics to improve competitiveness, but costs beyond its control had spiralled.

Meanwhile, a Co Donegal fish processing firm, D&O Seafoods Ltd, in Burtonport, yesterday announced plans to lay off its 60-strong workforce until further notice.

The two-year-old company will review its position at the end of the year. Difficulties in sourcing fish supplies and restricted landing times for catches have been blamed.