Harney details plans for 300 industry jobs

Hadco, a major US manufacturer of electronic products, is to establish its European base in Limerick, employing 150 people over the next five years in a customer and engineering services centre and manufacturing facility.

The announcement was made by the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, yesterday as she also detailed 150 new IDA-assisted jobs in two Monaghan companies, Century Homes, a timber frame kits manufacturer, and John E Coyle Furniture, manufacturers of cabinet and upholstered furniture. Hadco, a Nasdaq-quoted company, says it is the top US maker of electronic interconnect products, used by the computer, telecommunications and automation companies. Its contract with Solectron, which has a manufacturing base in Dublin, accounts for 13 per cent ($84 million) of its annual $648.7 million turnover.

Hadco also counts Sun Microsystems and Northern Telecom, both of which have a substantial presence in Ireland, among its contract manufacturers. Current Irish customers include Cabletron Systems and Tellabs at Shannon. Hadco will initially establish the customer and engineering services centre at the Plassey National Technological Park, employing 70 people.

Following the establishment of the services centre, the company will employ 80 people in the manufacture of printed circuit boards and complex back-plane assemblies. Mr Michael Sheehy, senior vice-president for the company's worldwide sales and marketing, said the Limerick plant would service European, Middle Eastern and African markets.

Mr Sheehy, who was director of operations with Wang in Limerick for nine years, until 1990, said Hadco's decision to establish in the area was due to the presence of highly skilled workers with a good work ethic. The presence of the university and the export facilities available at Shannon airport attracted the company.

Hadco Corporation, established 32 years ago in New Hampshire, employs more than 7,400 people. The company has 12 manufacturing outlets in America and one in Malaysia.

In Monaghan, Century Homes is investing almost £3 million to increase its production capacity in a market now worth about £22 million and to add 90 people to its workforce of 130. The use of timber frame kits in the building industry grew from 2 per cent in 1990 to 12 per cent in 1997, according to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

The furniture manufacturers, John E. Coyle, which employs 144 people, expects to create 50 jobs over four years in a £3.5 million investment, developing a new line of furniture for the British market.