Jobs at risk as Carron Phoenix set to close

Workers were sent home from the site today following the announcement. Picture: Michael Gillen

The Swiss-based Franke Group says the sink manufacturing plant will go through a phased closure programme over the next 18-20 months.

The closure is part of a “Europe-wide efficiency programme” by Franke with just 15 warehousing jobs to be retained locally at a new logistics facility still be established.

Two of Franke’s other sites in Europe will also be closed.

Owners of Carron Phoenix, Franke, want to close the plant within 20 months. Picture: Michael Gillen

Franke operations director Bart Doornkamp said: “We are facing intense pressure from other international manufacturers in what is a very competitive global market and have been working hard over the past year to devise an effective, long-term strategy.

“As a result, regrettably we have been left with no choice but to close our three existing facilities in Falkirk, Brunssum in Holland and Zilina in Slovakia and centralise our production on a more efficient, purpose-built greenfield site in Slovakia which will open in spring 2017.

“This is not a decision we have taken lightly. We examined in great detail the option of upgrading the Falkirk plant but the high level of investment that would have been required made the business case simply unsustainable.

“Consultation with the trade unions is a priority to ensure that we undertake an orderly, phased closure of the plant by December 2017. Dependent on those discussions, we are hopeful that there will be no redundancies before the start of next year.

“We are committed to working with the unions to finalise appropriate terms for employees and, wherever possible, to agree support to help them find new jobs and training opportunities. We are confident we will reach agreement on these issues in the coming weeks.

“We are also in touch with Scottish Enterprise and the local authority to ensure all possible support is given to the workforce.”