US machinery giant Terex has announced plans to cut around 130 jobs across its sites in Co Tyrone.
The engineering group, which employs hundreds of people in the Dungannon and Omagh areas, said it would also cut overtime and travel, while certain job roles would not be replaced.
The company said the “extraordinary surge in demand” its materials processing division experienced following the Covid-19 pandemic “has now stabilised”.
In a statement, Terex said: “This has led to reduced demand from key global markets.
“As a consequence, Terex has carefully reassessed its operational needs to align with the current market conditions and ensure viability and competitiveness of the business going forward.”
It’s understood staff were informed of the cuts during a ‘town hall’ style meeting on Monday morning.
Senior management said Terex will seek around 65 redundancies across three sites in the Dungannon area, with a similar number of jobs expected to go in Omagh.
A consultation process is now underway.
The potential manufacturing job losses in Co Tyrone comes as 200 workers at Glen Dimplex in Portadown face redundancy.
The Newry-founded global domestic appliance group announced the closure of the heating and ventilation plant earlier this year.
Terex specialise in manufacturing of mobile crushing and screening machinery for the quarrying, mining, construction and recycling sectors.
Monday’s announcement comes just four months after Terex marked 25 years since acquiring Powerscreen and Finlay in 1999.
Both brands are synonymous with the crushing and screening industry that emerged out of Co Tyrone in the 1950s and 1960s.
Terex said it has invested around £100 million in the north since 1999.
“As a global company with a strong presence in the UK and Northern Ireland for over 25 years, Terex has extensive experience managing cyclical market challenges,” said a company spokesperson.
“Our broad portfolio positions us to navigate this challenging period while continuing to develop new products and explore new markets.
“This approach, along with the above actions, will ensure our leadership position in the industry, allowing us to remain a significant local employer in the region for the longer term.
“Despite this, we understand that this is an unsettling time for our team members and are committed to supporting them throughout this process.
“Our primary focus is to minimise job losses while managing these changes with transparency and respect for everyone involved.
“We thank our team members for their continued dedication and hard work during these more challenging times.”