THE west Belfast engineering company, Mackie International, which earlier this month announced it was building a £13.5 million foundry at its Springvale site, is planning to cut over 60 jobs in its subsidiary companies.

Chairman, Mr Pat Dougan, said a review of the numbers employed was necessary "to compete efficiently and profitably in today's market place". He said it was "an ongoing process" and was part of corporate strategy.

"As a result of Mackie Group's plans to diversify further," he said, "we will require a different skills base to those traditionally found at Mackie's.

Mr Dougan said the new foundry would create 95 semi skilled jobs. A subsidiary company, Mackie Environmental, had recently secured contracts valued at nearly £3 million.

The companies in the Mackie Group, which employ around 400 people, include Mackie International, Mackie Environmental, Mackie Wooltech and Automatic Temperature Controls.

Meanwhile, the American owned company Nacco Materials Handling, which manufactures Hyster fork lift trucks, has confirmed that 75 jobs are to go at its plant in Craigavon.