20 October 2006 – A major supplier of plastic components to the auto industry has announced job losses and changes in production due to cut backs in car making.
Plastic Omnium will close both its businesses activities in Telford – Automotive and Urban Systems – and transfer production to plants in Measham, Derbyshire.
A total of almost 200 jobs will be lost at the site.
The company which specialises in making the plastic components for bumpers for cars has been hit by the closure of the Rover and Peugeot plants.
Explaining the situation a spokeswoman for Plastic Omnium said: “We have two activities in Telford.
“The major one is the automotive one and the second smaller one which is for environment activity where we produce waste containers.
“The number of jobs which will be lost will be 170 for the automotive business and 28 for the urban systems.
“A public consultation is under way and we have a project to close the plant in autumn 2007.
“I don’t think the jobs could be saved because most of the automotive activity will be transferred to another UK site in Measham.
“The major cause for this closure is the situation of the automotive production in the UK, with the closure of Rover last year and the announcement of the closure of Peugeot in January next year.
“We worked for both of these companies in Telford.”
According to PRW’s records, Plastics Omnium has been in Telford for 20 years, moving to the Shropshire town in October 1986.
