ALL 100 jobs in Dakronics are to be lost with a phased exit and cease operation to take place across the next year.
On Wednesday, Daktronics confirmed in a statement to The Clare Echo that no sustainable alternative was identified during a consultation process since the beginning of September and that 100 employees were notified their jobs would not be saved.
Loss of the Ennistymon jobs stems from Daktronics decision to exit “the highly customised portion” of the international transportation business which serves rail, bus and roadway customers outside of North America.
A spokesperson for the company told The Clare Echo, “Because the Daktronics Ireland manufacturing facility has primarily supported this business, in accordance with local laws, Daktronics consulted with its Ireland employees on the future viability of the facility. Unfortunately, no sustainable alternative was identified during the consultation process to support the business and continued operations in Ennistymon. As such, Daktronics has regretfully notified approximately 100 employees in Ireland that over approximately the next 12 months it will begin a phased exit and cease operation”.
Judd Guthmiller, Vice President, International said; “It is with deep regret that we make today’s announcement. This has been a very difficult decision and has not been taken lightly, but market realities have made it unavoidable. It does not diminish the enormous contribution our Ireland colleagues have made to the Company and to our customers and our focus now is on supporting the team through the closure process in the best way possible”.
Founded in 1968 as a USA-based manufacturing company, Daktronics has grown into the world leader in audiovisual systems and implementation with offices around the globe. Daktronics helps its customers to impact their audiences throughout the world with large-format LED video displays, message displays, scoreboards, digital billboards, audio systems and control systems in sport, business and transportation applications.
In 1979, Kevin Neville founded Data Display in Ennistymon and led it to become one of Europe’s largest producers of electronic displays. In 2014, it employed 150 people with signs made by the firm used by commuters travelling on the New York subway, the Dart in Dublin, the Metro in Paris and the London Underground.
The Neville family made the decision in 2014 to Data Display to Daktronics for an undisclosed sum. At the time of the sale, Data Display was led by Kevin’s son Paul and daughter Ann-Marie. The trio were listed as shareholders in Data Display along with Sarah and Theresa Neville when shareholders funds stood at €6.6m.
