45 Jobs At Risk As Company Proposes To Close Magherafelt Factory

45 Jobs At Risk As Company Proposes To Close Magherafelt Factory

- Caoimhe Hegarty

UP to 45 jobs could be lost if a proposal to close a precast factory in Magherafelt goes ahead.

Acheson and Glover have put forwards plans to close its South Derry operation on the Ballyronan Road, Magherafelt and consolidate pre-cast manufacturing to its Ballygawley headquarters by the end of 2018.

A 30-day consultation process into the management proposal is now underway.

The family-run company has confirmed that the decision follows an in-depth review of the Precast business over a nine-month period following an ongoing downturn in orders for its Hollowcore flooring and precast stairs as a result of uncertainty in the marketplace driven by Brexit.

Chief Executive, Raymond Acheson, said: “AG’s plants at Ballygawley and Magherafelt had been running at 60% capacity for some time and, with a reduced pipeline for Hollowcore flooring and precast stairs, anticipated demand will be better served by running one factory to its full capacity.