Transfer deal saves telecom jobs

The jobs of more than 60 employees of telecommunications company Fujitsu in west Belfast were saved today when the firm signed an innovative deal to transfer ownership of the plant to a US medical device manufacturer.

An agreement will see a seamless transfer of all 61 workers and equipment at the Springvale facility to TriVirix by mid-March.

Existing Fujitsu work will be carried out on a subcontract basis at the plant until March 2003.

Andy Stevenson, of Fujitsu, said the downturn in the telecommunications industry and a resultant global review of staffing by his company had put the future of the plant in doubt in recent months.

‘‘Much hard work has gone into finding a way of keeping the plant open and this innovative solution meets TriVirix’s needs as well as saving the jobs at Springvale.’’

Fujitsu’s main engineering centre in the heart of Belfast and another plant in Antrim are not affected by the agreement and remain in operation, he said.

TriVirix, manufacturers of electronic and electromechanical equipment for the medical device industry, was established in Northern Ireland in 1999 with a plan to create 75 jobs by this year.

They already employ 85 staff and need additional capacity for the production of printed circuit boards.

Richard West, chief executive of TriVirix , said they had had an extremely positive experience in Northern Ireland since setting up and had grown much faster than anticipated.

‘‘This agreement with Fujitsu allows us to continue with this growth.’’

Sir Reg Empey, the Stormont Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment said the agreement was to be welcomed in the present economic circumstances.

‘‘Against a backdrop of the global downturn in the telecom sector, which has forced Fujitsu to review its operations at Springvale, this announcement represents a positive outcome.’’