PLYSU CONTAINERS
UK: Market-driven reorganisation leads to 106 job losses / New investment programme
The UK operations of the Containers division of Plysu (Station Road, Woburn Sands, Milton Keynes, GB – Bucks MK17 8SE) are undergoing a strategic reorganisation between its two manufacturing sites so as to better serve the needs of customers, who are primarily located in the UK. The GBP 3m restructuring will lead to the loss of 106 jobs, 78 at the Woburn Sands plant and a further 28 at the Plenmeller factory in Northumberland.
The changes will mean that each plant is more focused on specific manufacturing roles. Plenmeller will concentrate mainly on the production of commodity containers, with Woburn primarily manufacturing coextruded products and containers meeting the United Nations requirements for the transportation of dangerous goods. The reorganisation is expected to be completed for the start of 2001.
An estimated 20 extrusion blow moulders will be transferred from Woburn to Plenmeller, meaning the plant in the north of England will have an estimated 40 % of the division´s production capacity and Woburn 60 %. Despite having more machines, Plenmeller will require fewer staff because it is moving away from producing PE containers, with their associated requirement for ancillary operations.
The investment programme will see the introduction of new handling equipment and a higher level of automation at both sites, together with a major upgrade of buildings and services at Plenmeller. The total workforce will decline from around 480 to an estimated 375, with most of the redundancies, it is hoped, being achieved on a voluntary basis. “These actions” says managing director James Crick, “demonstrate our determination to build and develop on our existing strong market position in support of the overall company strategy across Europe.”
Plysu Containers is one of five Plysu divisions and contributes about one-third of group turnover. It has three manufacturing plants in the Benelux and one in France, in addition to the two in the UK. The other group divisions, which all have their own manufacturing operations, are Liquid Foods, Personal Care, Brands and Protective Systems. Plysu forms part of the South Africa-based Nampak Group.
The changes will mean that each plant is more focused on specific manufacturing roles. Plenmeller will concentrate mainly on the production of commodity containers, with Woburn primarily manufacturing coextruded products and containers meeting the United Nations requirements for the transportation of dangerous goods. The reorganisation is expected to be completed for the start of 2001.
An estimated 20 extrusion blow moulders will be transferred from Woburn to Plenmeller, meaning the plant in the north of England will have an estimated 40 % of the division´s production capacity and Woburn 60 %. Despite having more machines, Plenmeller will require fewer staff because it is moving away from producing PE containers, with their associated requirement for ancillary operations.
The investment programme will see the introduction of new handling equipment and a higher level of automation at both sites, together with a major upgrade of buildings and services at Plenmeller. The total workforce will decline from around 480 to an estimated 375, with most of the redundancies, it is hoped, being achieved on a voluntary basis. “These actions” says managing director James Crick, “demonstrate our determination to build and develop on our existing strong market position in support of the overall company strategy across Europe.”
Plysu Containers is one of five Plysu divisions and contributes about one-third of group turnover. It has three manufacturing plants in the Benelux and one in France, in addition to the two in the UK. The other group divisions, which all have their own manufacturing operations, are Liquid Foods, Personal Care, Brands and Protective Systems. Plysu forms part of the South Africa-based Nampak Group.
30.11.2000 Plasteurope.com [17031]
Published on 30.11.2000