3Com expected to cut 600 Dublin manufacturing jobs

A formal announcement on the fate of over 700 workers employed at 3Com in Blanchardstown, Dublin, will not be forthcoming today…

A formal announcement on the fate of over 700 workers employed at 3Com in Blanchardstown, Dublin, will not be forthcoming today, a company spokesperson said.

It was reported manufacturing at the facility is to shut.

The 3Com facility in Blanchardstown

Sources at the company say around 600 workers involved in manufacturing computer networking equipment for the European market are expected to be made redundant.

The company is expected to retain a small research and development facility.

READ MORE

3com issued a statement that neither confirmed nor denied reports of the company's Irish pullout. They said their business was under constant review and would not comment on speculation.

"3Com does not comment on speculation. As we have consistently said, we are continuously reviewing all our operations on a worldwide basis.

This is to enable us to make the necessary decisions to ensure that we remain a tier-one provider of innovative, practical and high-value networking products for enterprises of all sizes and public sector organisations," the statement concluded.

However, sources at the company say the entire manufacturing operation is to likely to be abandoned and staff will be informed in the next few days.

Last year the company cut 200 jobs and put 30 acres of land and some of its property on the market as part of a drive to raise cash for its struggling US parent.

In 2001 over 100 jobs were cut as the downturn in the tech sector began to take effect, and the company began restructuring that slashed half its 12,000 worldwide workforce.

The company has been manufacturing computer network equipment in Dublin for the past 13 years but have reported losses in recent years.