"Business as usual" at Irwins Industrial Tool Company

Staff will be the first to know if the Irwin Industrial Tool Company decides to shut its plant in Wellsford.

Despite persistent rumours that the plant will close before Christmas, operations manager Michael Kelly says it was business as usual and any change would be put as a proposal to the 50-plus staff first.

He says that while Irwins has forecast orders beyond December, it needs firm orders for its long-term security. About 90 percent of the saw-blades produced in Wellsford are exported to North America.

“The downturn in the building industry in the US, coupled with the high NZ dollar, is working against us,” Mr Kelly says.

Irwins shed 65 percent of its workforce, or about 105 workers, in April.