APW Enclosures has confirmed that production will cease at its Tallaght plant in Dublin with the loss of 180 jobs.

Workers at the plant were informed yesterday/last week that the manufacturing facility at Airton Road in Dublin is to close in June.

Some 140 production employees and another 40 administration and ancillary staff will lose their jobs due to the closure of the plant which had attracted IDA support.

Unions are currently in discussions with management over the terms of redundancy packages for the staff affected by the closure.

The IDA is assessing grant repayment liability on the closure of the plant which had attracted support from the government development agency. IDA officials are expected to meet with APW to discuss the level of these repayments when this is calculated.

The Tallaght plant was set up to produce complete and part-finished custom enclosures and chassis racks for electronic components and other equipment.

However, following the successful restructuring of its global operation after a period in Chapter 11 protection, APW has been actively engaged in a strategy of streamlining operating costs.

The group operates plants throughout Europe, including Ireland and the UK, and also in the US and the far east.

The company specialises in the design and manufacture of structural components such as chassis and racks for a wide variety of uses in various industry sectors including electronic, computer and security applications.

(SP)