Flexsys to close Welsh facility, exit market for three chemicals

ERJ staff report (DS)

Ruabon , Wales -- Flexsys said it is to lose its rubber chemicals facility at Ruabon in Wales, with the loss of around 150 jobs. The factory will close this year, with the company exiting the site permanently by 2011.

Once Flexsys ceases its manufacturing operations at Ruabon, it will no longer participate in the market for the three product lines currently manufactured at that site: Santogard PVI pre-vulcanization inhibitors; Perkacit DPG, which is used as a secondary accelerator in the rubber vulcanization process; and Flectol TMQ and Flectol HPG, which protect against oxidative aging.

Jim Voss, president of Flexsys and senior vice president of its parent, Solutia Inc. said, "Our Ruabon site makes three product lines for which the market is over-supplied due to emerging competition from Far Eastern producers. Despite the significant steps our Ruabon management and employees have taken to improve the position of the site, it is unfortunately no longer cost competitive on a global scale. We will work to ensure the employees impacted by this change are treated the right way, and that our customers have a smooth transition to a new supply arrangement."

Loal press said about 150 jobs are expected to go and that the management has begun a 90-day consultation procedure with the workforce.

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Press release from Solutia / Flexsys

150 jobs to go at Flexsys factory near Wrexham - FULL REPORT The Standard ( UK - Wales)

150 jobs to go at Flexsys factory in Wrexham Daily Post ( UK - Wales)

Press release from source