A spokesperson for the state-owned Irish forestry company said 32 people would be made redundant and the site in Mullingar, which opened in 2003 with the promise of 250 jobs, was in line to be vacated. A handful of staff would remain in Ireland in sales and support roles, but all manufacturing would move to Austria.
Coillte owned 70% of the company and the sale now gives GriffnerHaus full ownership. No details of the financial deal were disclosed.
Coillte said the sale had been part of a review of operations that had already resulted in the sale of other businesses.
“This is a non-core activity and the volumes have not been there to justify that kind of commitment. We still feel there is a market for high quality, top spec timber frame homes, and they are selling, but the volumes are insufficent,” a spokesman said.
GriffnerHaus spokesperson Thomas Schmid said: “GriffnerHaus is committed to the Irish market and to serving current and new customers.”
The premises, which were expanded to 80,000ft2, were opened by government minister Dermot Ahern. Up to 100 people were known to have worked there at one time. The buildings were leasehold.
