Krups was a feature of Limerick life for 34 years. Families prospered and thrived on it, as the wages were good. Couples married, with both working in Krups, and over the years people upgraded their houses and cars and it was a good place in which to work.
At one time it employed 1,400. But when taken over from its German owners in January 1991 by the French group Moulinex, its workforce was gradually scaled down to 500.
Production ground to a halt at the factory yesterday and the machines were silent as workers, stunned by the early morning announcement, gathered in knots to discuss their future and try to figure out the reasons for closure. They drifted away home or to nearby pubs.
One worker who stayed behind suggested that production would begin on Monday again. "We were told we would close down at a rabbit's pace from November and you know how fast a rabbit can go," he said.
An obviously upset Moulinex operations director in Ireland, Mr Liam McElligott, who is also chairman of the semi-state agency Shannon Development, was making himself freely available to journalists for interviews.
He described the closure decision as "tough and bleak news". In the past two months, the company was faced with an extraordinary turn of events and it had to adapt to new market conditions in Russia and Asia.
The market in Russia, on which the group depended for 10 per cent of its total turnover, disappeared completely, resulting in major over-capacity.
Another problem was the availability of cheap parts from Asia.
The Limerick-based SIPTU branch secretary Mr Michael Long said it was a devastating day for Limerick and its workforce.
"We want to see action. I have seen devastated people act in a most responsible manner. We have a skilled, flexible workforce and many of the jobs on offer in Limerick at the present might suit their skills but would not pay the rates."
About 1,200 jobs were affected when services were taken into account.
"The average age of the Krups workforce is around 44 and they would be willing to be retrained, but what we need is a replacement industry."
The workers did not expect closure but short time, and he hopes the Minister, Ms Harney, will announce a task force when she arrives in Limerick on Monday.
On the lips of all the workers was: "We were expecting short time." One man, 28 years in Krups, said: "We are completely devastated and got no inkling of what was going to happen."
Another worker described the decision as "unbelievable. Three to four months ago there were double shifts here seven days a week. Now it's all to go."
Many workers had sizeable mortgages because the wages were so good.
It was pointed out that the company recently invested in new machinery for the plant but, with a shrug, one worker remarked: "That can be shipped over to France."
Ms Joan Twomey, 32 years in the plant, volunteered: "We did not expect closure and are totally shocked. What we were expecting was a three-day week or a week on and a week off."
Mr Tony Meehan from Southill, with 28 years' service and married with a family, said the prospect for many of the workers getting new jobs was very bleak.
Monday, November 9th is when they will know the stark reality of what rationalisation is all about.