Washing machine factory jobs cut

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Up to 45 jobs will be lost at a washing machine factory in Denbighshire amid concern about sales.

Indesit Company UK has announced that it will cut the number of shifts at the plant at Kinmel Park, Bodelwyddan, from the end of the month.

It said it had decided to "rationalise the workforce," but would work with union officials to reduce the effect.

The plant is one of four the company owns in the UK. The others are in Peterborough, Blythe Bridge and Yate.

In a statement, the company said: "Following recent discussions regarding market trends and forecast sales figures relating to product lines, Indesit Company has decided to rationalise the workforce at its Kinmel park manufacturing site.

"This mean the site will need to change from eight to seven shifts with effect from Monday, 30 October, reducing the core workforce by up to 45 positions.

"Indesit Company is working closely with the trade union to minimise the impact of these changes over the coming months."

In April 2004, three companies supplying the factory - which was then called Merloni - created more than 200 jobs nearby.

White goods

That news was welcomed at the time by the Welsh Assembly Government as a "huge boost of confidence" in the plant.

The assembly government gave the company regional selective assistance. Enterprise Minister Andrew Davies said at the time that it would "help the company to strengthen its position in the competitive global market for white goods".

At the time Denbighshire Council also said Bodelwyddan was at the core of a developing "centre of excellence in the manufacture of washing machines".

Indesit Company was formed in January 2005 when Merloni Elettrodomestici changed its name.