Braun follows Lapple, Irish Sugar out of Carlow

road_high

Sad day for Carlow,surprised nobody started a thread on this. A once mighty employer gone. I remember when it emplyed 1400 and that was not a long time ago.

Between the Carlow "big three" alone I estimate the follwing number of manufacturing jobs have been lost in Carlow in the last 5 or so years;
-Lapple 300 jobs
-Irish Sugar 350 jobs (many were seasonal but still, they're gone now)
-Braun 1400 jobs (at peak)

TOTAL; 2,050 JOBS GONE.

And that is just those few alone. Numerous others were lost in Celtic Linen, Greenvale foods and probably others that I can't remember off hand.
Carlow had such a great manufacturing base, now that is sadly gone.

And what has replaced them?? Retail jobs at Fairgreen and Aldi :mad:



http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/braun-to-close-plant-with-loss-of-160-jobs-1770996.html
Friday June 12 2009

THE Braun electrical plant, which once employed over 1,400 people in Carlow, is to close its doors by the end of next year with the loss of 160 jobs.

Parent company Proctor & Gamble confirmed yesterday that, following a study of its Irish business, a decision had been made to consolidate the plant and the Oral B toothbrush factory in Newbridge.

Braun currently employs 260 people in Carlow and 100 of those will transfer to the Newbridge plant by mid-2010, with the remainder losing their jobs.

Speculation about the future of the plant had been rife in recent months, since P&G announced a "sourcing study" on the Carlow operation.

Staff were consulted during the study and offered the option of going to Newbridge.

However, a spokesperson for the multinational told the Irish Independent yesterday that some of the redundancies would have to be compulsory.

"It will be a very gradual process," she said.

SIPTU officials met with staff last night to discuss the imminent closure.

P&G said that the "sourcing study" announced for the Carlow plant earlier this year was carried out as a result of the decision to phase out the Braun gas-powered cordless haircare business because of a decrease in consumer demand.

"As one of the products manufactured at Carlow, this decision impacted the site, so we carried out the study to assess all the potential options for the plant," said the company in a statement yesterday.

"The consolidation is the best option for our business in Ireland and ensures its viability in the long term. Importantly, it also allows us to secure future employment for around 100 Carlow employees at the Newbridge site."

Braun was once one of the top employers in the Carlow area, with over 1,400 staff members, but has been steadily shedding jobs in recent years.

Output

Oral B currently employs 350 staff in Newbridge and has reported increased output and sales recently, with 160 million toothbrushes manufactured on site each year.

Carlow Chamber of Commerce president David Walsh called yesterday evening for all stakeholders in the local economy to get together to promote the area to potential employers.

"It's a sad day on three fronts," he said.

"It's particularly sad for the staff and their families who are now out of work, but it's also sad for the company, who have been great employers for the last 33-odd years, and it's sad for Carlow town and county because the staff and the company have made a serious contribution to the local economy and will be sadly missed."

P&G says it is committed to providing "all the necessary support" for those leaving the company, as well as ensuring a smooth transition for those transferring to Newbridge.

The company described Ireland as "an important location" for P&G, both for office-based and manufacturing operations.

"Whilst the decision of the study is disappointing, we are pleased that we are able to keep the business in Ireland."

- Conor Kane

Whosbetter?

Totally agree with you!

Even in the '80s there was some good jobs in Carlow.

All the jobs you mentioned were replaced with Mc jobs', i.e. shops, hotels etc.

Goes to show, what kinda political represantation we've had in the last 30 years?

M.J. Nolan, Our Champion? Not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HugoIrl

I feel sorry for those 160 that are losing their jobs over the coming months, but a positive to look at is now a factory complex which can staff 1400 ppl will be vacant during a time where the country is beginning to see negative inflation. This should help our international competitiveness in the years to come and hopefully see the manufacturing make a comeback & we could see a larger number of staff enter the factory.

road_high

I like you optimism Hugo but I don't see how it can happen. All these kinda jobs have gone to China et al. Hard to see 1400 jobs like that in Carlow again.
I know Merck is a positive but they will only be employing a fraction of this.

HugoIrl

Well will keep my fingers crossed. You never know a good sized r & d might take up residents there or something.

stick-dan

My uncle is one of the 160 so yes it is a sad day on a personal and county note.braun has been a good contributor for a number of years now. it'll be missed.

road_high

Well it is a fine big facility and with the new road, close to Dublin. Lapple factory has a tenant, but I doubt it has over 300 jobs; not that I heard of anyhow!