Berg Electronics, the American manufacturer of interconnection systems, is to create 120 jobs by the year 2000 and plans to build a new 75,000 sq ft extension to its existing facility in Fermoy, Co Cork.

The company has applied for planning permission for the extension which will cost £3.5 million. This will bring to $11 million (£7.4 million) the investment made at the plant by the company which has 22 assembly facilities around the world.

In Fermoy yesterday, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, presented the company with a QS 9000 mark "as a recognition of the quality and efficiency of the plant". Berg has already achieved the ISO 9002 mark. Mr Ahern said having a "world leader in mechanical engineering in the Fermoy area represents a fantastic opportunity for local people to be trained and to become expert in the most up-to-date mechanical processes".

Among the company's customers are Dell, Apple, Motorola and NCI.