104 JOBS TO GO AT REHAU
HUGE BLOW TO ISLAND DAYS AFTER WYLFA NEWYDD PUT ON HOLD
‘Bolt from the blue’ as plastics plant to close after 50 years
ANGLESEY faces a massive jobs blow with more than 100 workers under threat from plans to close a plastics factory.
REHAU Group has announced proposals that may lead to the closure of its manufacturing facility in Amlwch (pictured).
This comes just six days after the news that Hitachi had put plans to build Wylfa Newydd on hold.
That will see 200 workers on Anglesey lose their jobs as well as hitting the multi-billion pound investment plan that could create 10,000 roles.
Rehau said it had been making considerable efforts to secure the future of the facility, including a change in shift patterns to improve productivity and investment in new machinery.
But it said the market for PVC Edgeband, the facility’s primary manufacturing focus, has gone into significant decline.
Now the company is proposing to close the site – putting 104 jobs under threat.
A spokesman for Rehau, which also has a site at Blaenau Ffestiniog, said: “With no sign of this demand recovering, and further investment in Amlwch or utilisation of the site for the manufacture of alternative products impossible due to space restrictions, we have taken the difficult decision to propose the closure of the site.
“The intention is to transfer production of PVC Edgeband and roller-shutters to the group’s other European facilities that have available production capacity.
“In line with our corporate values, we intend to go above and beyond in the support we offer at this difficult time.
“This will include a 90-day consultation period, extended from the normal 45-day period, and the active consideration of all proposals by individual employees to transfer to other roles within REHAU UK.
“We understand this will have significant impact on our workforce and the community, but we firmly believe it is necessary to make the company stronger and to place it in the best position to face future challenges and opportunities.”