Two separate manufacturing plants are to close in Killarney, Co Kerry, with the loss of up to 90 jobs, it was announced today.
Over 70 jobs are expected to go when Transmould, manufacturers of fire detectors and plastic-injection moulded components, ceases operations next year.
The company, which is based in the Ballyspillane industrial estate in the town, blamed competition from low cost countries especially China.
"Transmould's customers have outsourced the manufacture of their complete products to low cost countries, notably China. The effect has been to repeatedly reduce the demand for the components they bought from Transmould," a statement issued by the company said.
The company said it would do "everything practical" to support its employees and to ensure everyone connected with the business was informed of developments.
A specialised engineering company, Scott Tools, based in Woodlands Industrial Park in Killarney, also announced it was to close, with a loss of some 16 jobs. Production will cease at the 35-year-old company in November
The high cost of insurance, rates, water charges, oil prices as well as the basic cost of British-sourced high speed steel was blamed. The steel, the company's basic raw material, jumped by one-third in price since January - mainly because of Chinese demand.