CORK suffered a second blow to its burgeoning electronics and computer sector yesterday when components manufacturer Bourns Electronics Ireland announced it was cutting 120 jobs at its plant in the city.
The company told staff at the 430-job plant at Mahon that it was transferring two product lines abroad - one to Costa Rica with the loss of 90 jobs and the other to Asia with the loss of 30 jobs.
According to the company, the transfers were necessitated by a need to keep down costs.
The transfers of both product lines will occur progressively over the next two to three months, said BEI president and plant manager Mr Doug Kelleher in a statement.
Bourns Electronics Ireland makes electronic components for the automotive, telecommunications, aerospace and computer industries and the Cork operation includes technical support and customer service centres for its European market.
Mr Kelleher said the company regretted the job losses but added that it would maintain its plant on Leeside.
"Cork will continue as a key manufacturing site for Bourns Inc based on high volume, highly automated products," he said.
Yesterday's announcement follows the confirmation last month that Apple Computers in Hollyhill was cutting its workforce by 450 with the transfer of production of its highly successful iMac computer to LG Electronics in Wales.
IDA Ireland's south-west regional director, Mr Paddy Gallagher, said the news was disappointing but not unexpected and praised local management, in particular Mr Kelleher, for working tirelessly to retain as many jobs as possible in Cork.
"The two particular products could no longer be produced produced for a global market from Cork. Mr Kelleher and his management went to every length to keep them here for as long as possible but in the end it was no longer viable," he said.
"Bourns have liaised very closely with us and have developed a strategy aimed at maximising high skill jobs in Cork. I certainly would be very confident that they will hold the remaining jobs and hopefully add to them in time," Mr Gallagher said.