30 more workers to be laid off at factory

A MULTINATIONAL company, which planned to employ 400 people when it opened in Waterford three years ago, has announced it is to cease manufacturing operations at the plant.

Nypro Waterford Ltd, which employed about 200 people at its height, said it was laying off an additional 30 people “due to a cutback by a major customer.” It is understood 20 people will remain at work in the factory, while management make a final effort to secure a new contract.

“The cutback is due to a global restructuring by a major customer, which has resulted in no demand for products being manufactured at Nypro Waterford,” the company said in a statement.

Nypro Waterford Ltd (NWL) is a contract manufacturer specialising in fully automated, mechanical assembly, mainly for the computer industry. The company aimed to employ 400 people in Waterford, but never reached this target. The latest staff to be let go are expected to finish up in their positions before Christmas.

“We are very disappointed that business in Waterford has been eroded, we continue to look for new business opportunities for this operation but time is running out,” added parent company Nypro Inc president Brian Jones.

The state-of-the art facility at the Waterford Industrial Estate was opened by former Enterprise Minister Mary Harney in September 2001.

The €16.5 million project was supported by Enterprise Ireland under its regional development strategy.

“If this speculation is correct, Enterprise Minister Michael Martin will be very disappointed, particularly for the workers involved,” a spokesperson for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment said.

He said the enterprise minister had asked Enterprise Ireland “to make urgent contact” with the company to clarify the situation.

The company employs about 270 people at its sister plant in Bray, Co Wicklow.

Nypro’s headquarters are in the United States and it has more than 30 facilities worldwide that provide manufacturing solutions to many of the blue chip multinational companies in the telecommunications, computer, pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors.

In Waterford, the chairman of the local chamber for commerce, Frank O’Donoghue, said it was a very sad day for the company.

“We hope that they will find additional work and won’t have to close down fully,” he said.

“If it does close it will leave behind a valuable building and we are hopeful another employer will take over and create employment,” added Mr O’Donoghue.