Waterford Crystal is expected to secure in excess of £3 million for a large factory premises at Butlerstown, Waterford, following a decision to concentrate its operations in its other two plants. The 132,000 sq ft building has a 750 sq ft frontage on to the Cork road and stands on a site of 21 acres. It will be sold in one or more lots through joint agents DTZ Sherry FitzGerald and O'Shea O'Toole. The company plans to move its operation at Butlerstown to another factory at Kilbarry before the end of this year. All permanent jobs are be maintained. More than £30 million has been invested in the Kilbarry and Dungarvan factories over the past five years.

Last week Waterford Wedgewood announced that operating profits in the first six months of the year were up 36 per cent to £9.1 million.