CRISIS talks are to be held in an attempt to save more than 200 workers at a forklift truck manufacturing plant.

American bosses plan to shut the Nacco site in Irvine but are to be urged to investigate making alternative products.

The plea will be made by union leaders when talks are held with managers at the threatened Ayrshire factory which makes Hyster and Yale forklift trucks.

advertisementKenny Jordan, of the Amicus section of Unite union, said: "We hope to meet the company next week.

"We want to sit with the company officials and see if there is some way we can salvage as many jobs as we can or even reverse the decision.

"If that means diversification then it's an option we'll consider. Frankly, we'll look at every possible option to protect every one of these jobs."

Mr Jordan, a negotiator, added: "Although the job losses are not due to be fully enforced until 2009 the announcement represents another major blow to the manufacturing sector in the west of Scotland."

American owners at Nacco Materials Handling Group plans to switch production from Irvine to a sister plant at Craigavon, near Belfast.

They want to complete the transfer by January 2009 but have promised to keep their European HQ in Irvine.

The announcement comes as the workforce celebrate 50 years of fork lift truck production in the Ayrshire town.

Nacco said the decision was taken following a review of its European operations.

The owners blamed "over capacity" and a currency "imbalance" between the dollar, sterling and the Euro.

Today a spokesman said: "Following our announcement last week we are now in the process of meeting with staff and their representatives.

"We will be meeting with Amicus next week and welcome the opportunity to discuss our plans further with them."

If the battle to save the plant fails then 220 manufacturing jobs will be axed while 120 office staff at the Portland Road complex will switch to a neighbouring site.

The announcement is another serious blow to the local economy. More than 400 jobs were axed when electronics firm Simclar closed factories at Irvine and Kilwinning earlier this year.