NCR to cease cash machine production in Dundee

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} Technology company NCR is to cease its manufacturing operations in Dundee with the loss of over 250 jobs.   NCR, which makes automated teller machines (ATMs) in the city, blamed "unprecedented contraction in the global economy.ÔÇØ   The company will retain around 450 people to work on research and development, services support and new product introduction, but production, engineering, marketing and support staff will lose their jobs.   "Like many companies, we have taken a number of prudent steps to better manage our cost structure in recent months,ÔÇØ said Rick Marquardt, vice president of global manufacturing. "However, based on the current business outlook, we now need to make the difficult but necessary decision of proposing further workforce reductions in Dundee in order to protect our position.   "We realise that these changes will bring challenging times for those employees affected and we are committed to helping any individuals affected with comprehensive outplacement support," he added.   US-owned NCR has consistently reduced the Dundee workforce in recent years, with production moving to Hungary, where wages are lower. Over 600 jobs were lost at NCR in Dundee only two years ago.   The Dundee factory opened in 1947 when the company was known as National Cash Registers. It soon became the city's largest employer, peaking at over 6,000 people. It changed direction in the 1980s with the manufacture of ATMs and by 1998 the company was making 27 percent of the world's cash machines.   A 90-day consultation on the latest proposed restructuring is to be held with union and employee representative groups.     *┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á *┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á *