Factory closure to cost 180 jobs

A manufacturing firm is to close a factory which has been in business for 58 years with the loss of almost 180 jobs, it emerged today.

ABB, which makes components for power supply, will shut down its long-standing Waterford facility by next April.

In a statement the firm blamed falling business and poor future prospects.

“The closure is as a result of significantly lower orders and lack of potential business in the markets served by this unit, making it unviable,” ABB management said.

The company has opened talks with unions and employees over redundancy. It will continue operations in Dundalk, Cork, Dublin and Lisburn, Co Antrim.

ABB’s manufacturing unit in Waterford manufactures distribution transformers for the construction and utility markets in Ireland and the UK.

The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs more than 110,000 people.