The closure is due to the high cost of UK manufacture

The closure is due to the high cost of UK manufacture

Korea’s Samsung group is to close its north-east UK plant, sending another blow to polymer processing in the UK. Both products manufactured at the site in Wynyard near Stockton-on-Tees – microwave ovens and flat panel PC monitors – had plastics input and consumed several hundred tonnes of ABS a year.

Samsung originally used a combination of in-house moulding and external sourcing, primarily from local moulder Woo One, to meet its requirements. It discontinued its on-site operation several years ago. PRW.com was told today that Woo One is currently in discussions with Samsung over the situation. The electronics giant was not the only customer of Woo One, which was opened in 1996.

Samsung’s decision, prompted by the high cost of UK manufacture, will cost 425 jobs and has provoked another furore over state aid offered to inward investors. Production at Wynyard will be transferred to China and Slovakia.