Hundreds Of FG Wilson Engineering Jobs To Be Lost

More than 250 workers are to lose their jobs across four major engineering locations in Co Antrim.

The staff are to be made redundant at engineering firm FG Wilson where a company spokesman blamed the economy: "Unfortunately market conditions have continued to worsen," he said

"We need to lower our production volumes further to take account of the reduced demand for FG Wilson's products."

The redundancies are to be made across four sites - Larne (138), Monkstown (45), Springvale (50), Springvale (27).

It is changed times as, back in the Spring of 2006, the company was boosted with an investment to provide a major expansion of its facilities.

It received a £47 million investment boost, making it the 'global centre of excellence' in research and manufacture of diesel and natural gas powered electrical generators for parent company, Caterpillar Inc.

The investment, which included an offer of £12.2 million assistance from Invest NI, provided the opportunity for the creation of 155 new jobs at the company's facilities at Larne, Springvale (Belfast) and Monkstown.

Commenting at the time, Mark Sweeney, Managing Director of FG Wilson and Caterpillar Electric Power Division's Global Operations Director said: "Our goal is to make FG Wilson a global centre of excellence for manufacturing expertise, research and development and sales and marketing within Caterpillar's Electric Power Division.

"This investment is an important step along this road and will ensure that we continue to lead the electric power industry with a highly skilled, highly motivated team and world class products."

See: FG Wilson invest £47m in NI expansion

(BMcC/JM)