A deal to sell Workington's ABB plant as a going concern is likely to be completed in the new year.
ABB released a statement this week saying it was in talks with McMenon Engineering Services Limited to transfer the Salterbeck Industrial Estate facility, which makes instrumentation, to it.
An ABB spokesman said: "We've just started the consultation exercise. The transfer will allow the Workington facility, which makes specialised instrumentation, to expand its markets rather than focusing on the markets which are important to ABB."
The facility, off Moorclose Road, employs around 60 people.
All staff will be transferred to McMenon when the deal is agreed.
The McMenon website says the acquisition is part of the firm's vision for growth.
It added: "Our ambition is to build on existing capabilities and reputation and further develop the Workington product manufacturing unit into a premier manufacturer of choice for flow, temperature and other related measurement instrumentation products."
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