Lapple Ireland is to close its manufacturing plant in Carlow town later this year with the loss of 140 jobs.
Established in Carlow in 1974, Lapple Ireland produces press tools and components for the car industry.
Described as one of Carlow's flagship employers, at its height Lapple employed up to 350 people in Carlow. Over the years that number has dwindled and today there are around 140 working at the plant.
A statement said the company would now enter talks with workers on redundancy terms. Lapple said the plant had incurred 'heavy losses' in recent years because of increased costs and competition.
It also emerged today that the jobs of 120 workers at the Molex plant in Millstreet in Co. Cork are under threat following a decision by the company to consolidate its Irish operations at its Shannon plant.
The electronic components manufacturer, which has been in Millstreet for over twenty years, employs 600 workers at its plants in Shannon and Cork.
The company plans to consolidate its Irish operations at the Shannon plant where over 400 people are employed, and to close down the operation in Co. Cork where 120 are employed
Meetings with workers at both plants are taking place today about the future of the company amid fears there could be job cuts.
The company was first established in Shannon in 1971 and is one of the biggest suppliers in the world of interconnectors for the telecom, white goods, industrial and medical markets. It has plants in over 40 countries worldwide.
It is understood the consolidation at its base in Shannon will give it more expansion opportunities there.
