The plans have sparked concern the proposed new plant will take production away from Dundee, with a consequent loss of jobs.

However, a senior union official at NCR said today the company had so far given no indication of job losses at the Gourdie factory complex on Kingsway West.

Mr Ronnie Clarkson, Amicus AEEU shop stewards convener, said the company had already agreed to meet union officials to discuss the possible implications of the new plant for the Dundee operation.

“At this moment in time the company has not said there are going to be job losses,” Mr Clarkson said.

“Obviously we are concerned, but my job and the job of the other officials is to try to secure as many jobs as possible in Dundee.”

Mr Clarkson said the union had questions it wanted to place before management.

“We have a list of questions, and we will be trying to get guarantees. We still believe the company has a long-term future in Dundee.

“The question is what size that operation will be,” he said.

NCR says a second manufacturing plant is required for its Europe, Middle East and Africa manufacturing zone, and has cited cost-effectiveness as a key reason.

Although the company is still looking at possible locations for the new plant, it is understood Poland is a top contender.

NCR says it is still too early to determine what the impact in Dundee will be.

NCR, which arrived in Dundee in 1946, presently employs 1500 people here.

This includes about 800 production workers, who are largely involved in the manufacture of the company’s highly successful automated teller machines (ATMs).

There is also a substantial research and development operation in the city.

Last night a London-based spokesman for NCR said the company “remained committed” to manufacturing in Dundee.

“At the same time we are looking at this plant in eastern Europe to complement activities there (in Dundee),” he added.

Ironically, the speculation surrounding job losses comes at a time when the manufacturing operations in Dundee are understood to be at their busiest for a few years.

A surge in demand for ATMs has seen between 200 and 250 temporary workers recruited to boost production.

It is understood there is also substantial overtime being worked.

However, the very nature of this production means costs are higher than NCR would like, and this will have influenced the decision to go ahead with a new plant in eastern Europe, where labour costs will be significantly lower.

The chief executive of Dundee & Tayside Chamber of Commerce said today he had no reason to doubt NCR would have a long-term future in the city.

Mervyn Rolfe said there had been “very substantial investment” by the company in its research and development, and this ought to be seen as a commitment to an operation in Dundee.

“It’s not inevitable that if something opens up in, for example, Poland, that it will have a serious negative impact,” he said.

“We have the example in Dundee of Michelin, who have managed to beat off the competition of other tyre manufacturers in eastern Europe.”

However, Mr Rolfe said reassurances would be sought from the company.

If a situation arose where discussions with the company were seen as appropriate, the chamber would be “only too pleased” to be involved .

“The chamber will be closely watching any developments with interest,” he said.

Dundee City Council economic development convener Joe Morrow said, “We have had no indication from NCR of possible job losses and are pleased to note the company said they remain committed to manufacturing in Dundee and their facility in the city.”

A spokesman for Scottish Enterprise Tayside said, “NCR operates in a challenging global marketplace. Scottish Development International and Scottish Enterprise Tayside continue to work actively with NCR Dundee and NCR corporate in the US.”