Webtech, the Irish company that owns packaging printer James Townsend & Sons, is to close the Exeter-based business, according to Unite.
Unite regional coordinating officer Livie Reid told PrintWeek that a 30-day consultation began on 1 August with all 39 employees at the plant.
The employees are based in the company's litho division, which will be transferred to Webtech's Enniskillen, Northern Ireland headquarters.
In June this year the company announced that it would be transferring its flexo division across. 19 employees were made redundant at that time.
According to Reid, 16 jobs have been made available in Northern Ireland for Exeter-based employees; six in the printing department and 10 in the finishing department.
There are also short-term contracts available for employees to train up staff in Northern Ireland.
Unless there is any change during the consultation, employees will be given three months' notice on 5 September, with the transfer expected to happen during November.
Reid said: "The company said that they would give a decent relocation package and I have to say, having seen the package the terms were very generous.
"When the flexo division was transferred across two or three employees did decide to move. It is a question of whether anybody will want to make the move across the water."
He added that, when Webtech took over James Townsend its facility had already been sold and would be turned into housing in the near future.
"In my mind, there was no doubt that the litho side would close," he said. "I couldn't see them finding a property somewhere in Exeter. It is a very sad end to a building that has, for many years, been a landmark building in Exeter."
Webtech acquired James Townsend in April this year. At the time 74 employees moved over under TUPE regulations.
Webtech was not available for comment at the time of writing | 
