Hosepipe production plant to shut

Flexible Ducting manufactures hosepipe components

The hosepipe component manufacturing firm Flexible Ducting is to close its plant in East Dunbartonshire with the loss of 85 jobs.

The company said production at its Milngavie facility would be scaled back and end completely by July 2009.

It follows a decision by a key customer - believed to be Dyson - to relocate to a low-cost site in Malaysia.

The Unite union said the plant closure was a "hammer blow" at a time of economic uncertainty.

A statement from Flexible Ducting said: "The facility has struggled to remain profitable since its biggest customer by far transferred its main production facility from the UK to a low-cost site in Malaysia.

"Despite all our efforts, no comparable replacement has been found. In addition, the already tough trading conditions caused by global over-capacity in the flexible hose and ducting sector have worsened in recent months as the severe economic downturn begins to bite.

The loss of quality jobs at any time is difficult to stomach but it will be felt even more so in this period of economic uncertainty Tony Devlin Unite

"To help alleviate the impact on the 85 employees, we intend to phase the closure over the next eight months with final shut-down expected in July 2009."

Unite regional officer Tony Devlin said: "This development is a hammer blow to our members. The loss of quality jobs at any time is difficult to stomach but it will be felt even more so in this period of economic uncertainty.

"I have requested a meeting with the director of operations as a matter of urgency. Flexible Ducting has enjoyed a long association with Milngavie and if the management shut up shop it will be felt hard by local families and the wider community.

"Unite will be fighting to ensure that management explores all avenues to bridge the turnover gap and sustain employment before taking this drastic step."

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