Up to 95 jobs are to go at a Co Down aircraft seat manufacturer.
A tenth of the workforce at BE Aerospace in Kilkeel have been handed a month's notice. The economic downturn has been blamed.
The firm's managing director Sean Cromie said the industry was not immune to global economic conditions.
He said conditions meant the firm would have to downsize by about 10% in order to protect long-term viability in a very competitive market.
DUP Assembly member Jim Wells said it had been hoped the company could ride out the recession affecting the construction and service industries because it is top quality. 40% of aircraft seats in the world are made in Kilkeel, and it is a bad blow to the town, he added.
Mr Wells said all the workers had been brought in today and told about the cutback.
American-based BE Aerospace Inc is the world's leading provider of aircraft interior products and the leading distributor of aerospace fasteners and consumables for the commercial, business jet, and military markets. It has over 30 offices in 15 countries.
