Production line sold at Finsa

PRODUCTION at the Finsa Forest Products Ltd Plant in Scariff may have come to an end in December 2010 but it seems any hopes of returning to production are now at an end as it has emerged the company has sold its production line.

Chipboard production has been at the heart of Scariff for more than 50 years and it came as a great shock to the East Clare community when Finsa Forest Products Ltd downsized and ceased production in recent months.
It has come as a further disappointment to locals that production will not resume at the plant as assets at the factory have now been sold.
In a statement issued to The Clare Champion this week, a spokesperson for the company outlined the situation.
“As a consequence of the ongoing crisis in the construction sector in Ireland, demand for products produced in Scariff collapsed from mid-2008. Significant losses were incurred from 2008 to 2011 as Finsa made every effort to maintain employment and production capacity in Scariff. Chipboard has not been produced in Scariff since December 2010. In early 2012, all remaining production activity ceased. This cessation of activity resulted in hardship for employees and imposed a major financial cost on the company.
“As there is no prospect of demand recovering in the medium term, the company has reluctantly decided to sell various assets in order to meet its financial commitments,” the spokesperson concluded.
Commenting on the issue, Councillor Joe Cooney said, “This has come as a major blow to the East Clare area that the Finsa company has reluctantly decided to sell various assets from the plant in Scariff in order to meet its financial commitments.
“This chipboard factory has been one of the major employers for over 50 years in the area and gave employment to over 350 people at its peak. I would be hoping talks can take place with management in the hopes of other businesses being carried out in this facility in East Clare.”
He said a local group have got together and are hoping to meet with the Finsa company to discuss this possibility.