The Finnish group will consolidate production of composite pipes at its Zella-Mehlis factory

The Finnish group will consolidate production of composite pipes at its Zella-Mehlis factory

Finnish pipemaker Uponor is to close one factory and cut almost 100 jobs as part of the restructuring plan announced last year. The company will consolidate production of composite pipes at its factory in Zella-Mehlis, Germany, ending production of these pipes at Ahlen in Germany and Mostoles in Spain. All the machinery will be moved by the end of June and the factory at Ahlen will close.

A spokesman told PRW.com that total production capacity for composite pipes will not be affected. “The same number of machines will be available. We may even be able to expand capacity slightly.” The Spanish plant will also stop manufacturing PEX-b tap water pipe and corrugated pipe to focus on the production of PEX-a pipes for underfloor heating and tap water systems.

Uponor said: “It [PEX-a pipe] is the company’s main product and is showing good growth. The growing demand for composite pipes in the Spanish market will be satisfied by imports from Germany.” The factory in Zella-Mehlis will stop making downstream equipment, such as pipe coilers, since Uponor has chosen to leave this business area.

At Hassfurt, Germany, the group will make a “serious” investment in automating its production of fittings. The spokesman said new robots would form part of the investment.