1960 – Grundig Factory, Dunmurry Industrial Estate, Belfast

Modern office and factory building constructed as part of a drive to bring new jobs to Northern Ireland in the 50s and 60s. Opened in 1960 to manufacture tape recorders, it was the first production centre by Grundig outside Germany. The managing director of the plant Thomas Niedermayer was kidnapped and later killed by the Provisional IRA in December 1973. He had lived in Northern Ireland with his wife, Ingeborg, and their two daughters since 1961. By 1973, the factory employed more than 1,000 workers and Niedermayer did not tolerate any display of sectarian loyalties on his shopfloor. It was very much seen as a model factory. The factory was closed with the loss of all jobs in 1980. The manufacturing part of the premises is still in use today but the office building has been demolished.