Braun Factory on O'Brien Road, Carlow in 2009

In the year 1974 two German manufacturing companies, Braun and Läpple opened production plants in Carlow town, Ireland. Läpple, had been founded in Weinsberg near Heilbronn, Germany in 1919 and Braun had been founded in Frankfurt am Main in 1921. By the time the two companies began operations in Carlow they were both international employers.

As the company grew, Braun established subsidiaries in several European countries. Traditionally Carlow had a strong industrial skill base due to the presence of the Sugar Factory and other manufacturing industries. The presence of this skilled workforce and assistance from the Industrial Development Authority were determining factors in Braun opening a plant in Carlow. The plant was designed to manufacture hair dryers and other personal care products. Described as a huge factory it employed at its peak 1,400 people. It became one of the biggest employers in the Southeast of Ireland. Its round-the-clock manufacturing activity employed people not just from Carlow but also from surrounding counties of Kildare, Laois, Kilkenny and Wicklow.

In 2009 the Braun electrical plant, which once employed over 1,400 people in Carlow, is to close its doors by the end of next year with the loss of 160 jobs.