This article is from page 8 of the 2013-12-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
SHANNON suffered a major jobs blow last week when it was revealed that one of the longest serving companies in the Free Zone will close its manufacutring facility in 2014.
On Thursday it was announced through a public relations firm in Dublin that Kraus and Naimer would shut down the manufacturing arm of its operation in the industial estate early in the new year. “Production at the facility, which supplies electrical switchgear, will cease at the end of January 2014,” a statement issued by through FleishmanHilliard revealed.
The announcement was made to the total workforce of 63 by senior management from the company’s parent group in Austria.
The employees were told that “the closure is due to the business sus- taining losses for the last number of years, which have been driven by the impact of weak customer demand due to the global recession.
“The decision follows previous efforts to restructure the facility and a move recently to enter short working time arrangements,” the statement continued.
“It is with deep regret we have had to make this decision which has been made due to ongoing and unsustainable losses incurred at the Shannon
facility,” said Ted Naimer, Global President at Kraus and Naimer.
“We will be entering into a process with staff over coming days in relation to an orderly winding down of the facility, and thank them sincerely for the contribution they have made to the company,” he added
Kraus and Naimer established its facility, which is involved in the manufacture of a variety of electrical switches for industry, in Shannon in 1973.
SIPTU, which had been in talks with the company about strategies to maintain its operation in Shannon, said workers are shocked and angered to learn of the company’s decision to end production.
The union says further talks are due to take place at the company next week.
It will explore all avenues open to maintaining employment and if necessary trying to secure the best redundancy deals possible.