Nuremberg, Germany – Zeon Corp. is scheduled to complete the planned closure of its synthetic rubber plant in Wales, UK by the end of 2015, according Hubert Thimm, commercial director, Zeon Europe GmbH.

The move, though, remains subject to the outcome of consultation talks with employees, Thimm added in an interview during the DKT exhibition, being held 29 June to 2 July in Nuremberg.

The Welsh plant is the Japanese group’s only European manufacturing site. Built in the 1950s, it was bought by Zeon from BP Chemicals in 1989.

In April, Zeon announced the closure plans citing “changing market conditions” and “uncertainty in the long-term availability and supply of primary raw materials to the UK site"

The plant’s nameplate production includes about 15,000 tonnes per annum of nitrile rubber, which is mainly exported to Europe.

According to European sales boss Thimm, the capacity will be taken up by Zeon’s North American and Japanese operations.