The largest business unit of Bermuda-based Tyco International; Tyco Electronics has announced the closing of one of its plants in Texas - resulting in the loss of 700 jobs. This follows the closing of two other Tyco Electronics plants in the US.

and North Carolina - earlier this month.

The plant closings are the latest moves by Tyco to streamline operations and become more cost-efficient in the recessionary economy, according to US reports quoting spokesperson Maryanne Kane.

Tyco Electronics projects negative growth due to the economic downturn that has severely hurt sales of electronic connectors, particularly in the telecommunications industry. Earlier this year, Tyco Electronics also closed a plant in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and a facility in Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania. It has made a series of layoffs at several of its south-central Pennsylvania buildings.

The Dallas Morning News reported yesterday that the latest plant closing was of Tyco's Mesquite manufacturing plant - once the city's largest employer - and eliminating 700 jobs. The cuts involve 600 manufacturing and 100 administrative positions, Tyco spokeswoman Maryanne Kane said. Several hundred jobs had already been cut, at the plant, earlier in the year. A year ago, the company had about 2,000 employees in Mesquite, Texas.