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19th March 2013 • Volume 20, Issue 10 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. • Tel: 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie
Blow For Swords As Iconic Plant Closes The news that the well known Lonza factory in Swords is to close in June of this year, with the loss of 43 jobs, has been greeted with shock by the local community. This landmark plant on Watery Lane, was better known as Arch Chemicals, and previously as Olin Chemicals. Lonza, which took over from Arch Chemicals in 2011 is based in Basel, Switzerland, has informed 32 direct and 11 contracted staff at its Swords site that the facility will close in June of this year. The factory has been in Swords in one shape or another, since 1966, and manufactures biocides for anti-dandruff and marine paint anti-fouling applications. Michael O’Donoghue, Plant Manager at Lonza spoke to the County Leader and explained how this unfortunate loss of jobs came about. “For this range of products, Lonza operates three sites of which, Swords is
By Patrick Finnegan the smallest. The other two are in Rochester, New York and Suzhou, China. Global demand can be met effectively in the years to come with just the two larger well established sites, and so the Swords plant will close. It’s down to production efficiencies.” He explained that most of the company’s customer base is in Asia, which can be serviced from the Chinese factory. The 32 jobs in question are skilled operator jobs, including technicians and the 11 contracted staff are made up of electricians, security personnel, maintenance crews and various support services.
He continued, “The site is owned by Lonza and our objective is to completely close Lonza production at this site. We will stop production in June and all activity will cease by September. It is purely a process of rationalisation by the company,” he said. For the past 47 years, this factory has been a regular and reliable employer, which has a record of employing local skilled and non-skilled workers and has played a major role in the local economy. In the 1990s, employment at the factory peaked at around 70 employees. This adds to the tragedy and the end of a landmark employer in Swords. Commenting on the news, Tony Lambert, CEO, Fingal Dublin Chamber told the County Leader, “It is with
Welcome For New Community Facilities In Lusk Councillor Tom O’Leary (FG) welcomed confirmation of funding by the County Council for a new community sports hall facility at Lusk National School. “This facility will be available for use jointly by the school and the local community and is a very welcome development of planned leisure facilities in Lusk.” O’Leary told the County Leader. “This, combined with the new secondary school, soccer club, playing pitches and the planned extension of the national school means the Government and County Council are definitely investing significant resources in Lusk, which is Cllr. O’Leary fantastic for the area and its residents,” he continued. “Lusk has a young population profile who will most definitely make use of the new community and education facilities.” The model for this centre is the same as the new community centre now opened at the Educate Together School in Flemington Balbriggan. This project is based on the Fingal Schools model which won a national award as a method of funding and planning for local facilities. The community centre and national school extension are planned for completion by September 2014. The refurbishment of Devine’s Cottage at the Square in Lusk was also confirmed at the monthly meeting of the County Council on Monday, 11th March last. This facility will provide meeting rooms at a very accessible town centre location for 50 people with extra car parking available for residents visiting the village and the centre. “The Council are taking a very pro-active interest in Lusk, which is most welcomed,” concluded O’Leary.
Pictured here are Skerries Community Games Under 11 Rugby team with their Gold Medals at the recent Dublin Community Games Rugby finals
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great sadness that the Chamber learned that Lonza, have decided to close their premises. The company has been in Swords since 1966, and has given employment to many generations of local people. Their decision to close is obviously based on global markets and is no reflection on the area or quality of staff.” He continued, “Indeed, the operation of the plant has been to the highest standard of health and safety. The company has always been supportive of local groups and organisations, and has been a member of the Chamber since 1994,” he concluded. Whilst the recession has had very severe consequences in many parts of the country, Swords, up to now, has largely been spared much of the large, wholesale closure of companies. However, this news will have a huge impact on the families of those affected by the closure, and also on local companies that supply Lonza on a daily basis, with food, drink, materials and other services.