08/01/2009

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)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

30 March 2006
FG Wilson invest £47m in NI expansion
FG Wilson (Engineering) Ltd, is set to receive 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 includes an offer of £12.
01 September 2004
Mains powered smoke detectors could save more lives
More than 100 lives a year could be saved if every house in the UK was equipped with a mains powered smoke detector, a Belfast conference was told today.
14 November 2024
Minister Murphy Raises Economic Concerns in London
Economy Minister Conor Murphy today raised a number of key economic issues with British Government Ministers during a visit to London.
09 December 2013
Community Projects Receive £1.1m
A total of 16 community groups across Belfast have received total funding of just over £1.1m from City Council. The funding boost is being delivered through the £5m Local Investment Fund (LIF), which is part of the council's wider Investment Programme for the city. The move brings the overall amount allocated through the fund to over £2.
16 May 2013
£1.25m For Belfast Community Projects
20 community regeneration projects across Belfast have received funding totalling £1.25m from the City Council. The funding is part of £5m set aside for the Local Investment Fund (LIF). Just under £1.3m is earmarked each to the North, South, East and West of the city and a further £490,000 allocated for the Shankill area.