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| 163 jobs to go at rubber factory | 163 jobs to go at rubber factory |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Management at a chemicals factory have blamed competition from the Far East for the decision to close with the loss of 163 jobs. | Management at a chemicals factory have blamed competition from the Far East for the decision to close with the loss of 163 jobs. |
| The US-owned Flexsys Rubber Chemicals said the closure at Cefn Mawr, Wrexham, would take place over three years and had been "a difficult decision". | |
| But a T&G union official said he was told the plant could close by December. | But a T&G union official said he was told the plant could close by December. |
| The factory has been open since the 1930s and makes specialised chemicals for the rubber industry. | The factory has been open since the 1930s and makes specialised chemicals for the rubber industry. |
| The parent company Solutia Inc has started the 90-day consultation with workers to try to find an alternative. | |
| Union official Peter Hughes said shocked workers had assumed their jobs were safe for the foreseeable future because the factory had been scaled down several times before. | Union official Peter Hughes said shocked workers had assumed their jobs were safe for the foreseeable future because the factory had been scaled down several times before. |
| The factory, known locally as the Ruabon Works, is one of the oldest industrial sites in the Wrexham area. | The factory, known locally as the Ruabon Works, is one of the oldest industrial sites in the Wrexham area. |
| It has produced chemicals for the rubber industry since the 1930s, and Flexsys Rubber Chemicals Limited took over operations there in 1995. | It has produced chemicals for the rubber industry since the 1930s, and Flexsys Rubber Chemicals Limited took over operations there in 1995. |
| Manager Simon Howarth said: "Increasing competition from low-cost manufacturers in the Far East has led to this decision to exit those parts of the Flexsys business served by the Ruabon site. | Manager Simon Howarth said: "Increasing competition from low-cost manufacturers in the Far East has led to this decision to exit those parts of the Flexsys business served by the Ruabon site. |
| "While our people have worked tirelessly in recent years to ensure a safe and cost-effective operation at Ruabon, Flexsys has been forced to make this difficult decision to secure its wider business. | "While our people have worked tirelessly in recent years to ensure a safe and cost-effective operation at Ruabon, Flexsys has been forced to make this difficult decision to secure its wider business. |
| 'Impact' | |
| "In making this announcement, Flexsys regrets the loss of employment and the impact this will have on the lives of its employees at Ruabon and will do all it reasonably can to provide assistance to them. | "In making this announcement, Flexsys regrets the loss of employment and the impact this will have on the lives of its employees at Ruabon and will do all it reasonably can to provide assistance to them. |
| "The company also recognises that this closure represents the end of an era for a manufacturing site with a long and distinguished history." | "The company also recognises that this closure represents the end of an era for a manufacturing site with a long and distinguished history." |
| In a statement, Wrexham Council's chief executive Isobel Garner and the authority's leader Aled Roberts said: "We are disappointed at this announcement and we understand the impact this will have on employees and the community as a whole. | |
| "We are arranging a meeting with the owners to find out their plans for closure and for the future of the site. | |
| "The rapid response redundancy team will be contacting the employees to offer one to one interviews and offering advice about potential employment and self employment." |