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Copper wire factory due to close Copper wire factory due to close
(20 minutes later)
A copper wire factory in Llanelli is to close with the loss of 135 jobs.A copper wire factory in Llanelli is to close with the loss of 135 jobs.
The Dutch owners of the Draka copper facility in the Carmarthenshire town say the business will be "consolidated" with its other European operations.The Dutch owners of the Draka copper facility in the Carmarthenshire town say the business will be "consolidated" with its other European operations.
It says the sales arm of its operation in Llanelli will also be transferred to its UK headquarters in Derby.It says the sales arm of its operation in Llanelli will also be transferred to its UK headquarters in Derby.
The company said it is now in a three month consultation period with unions, and has yet to set a date for the end of production in Wales. Bosses are blaming high transport costs for the decision, but say they hope to offer jobs at its other plants to the workforce.
In a statement, the company said: "The Board of Management of Draka Holding N.V. announces that it intends to stop production of copper wire in its Llanelli (UK) copper wire factory." The company has confirmed that it is now in a three-month consultation period with unions over when production will stop in Llanelli.
It adds that production will be moved to other EU plants, where "wire drawing is already part of the integrated manufacturing process." Michael Bosman, the director of investor relations at Draka said: "We can't rule out anything - we are doing our best.
"The third party sales served by the Llanelli facility will be absorbed by Draka's Derby site (UK)," the company confirmed. "Of course it is a very harsh measure but we are doing our best to maintain as many jobs as possible."
"The closure of Llanelli has been discussed with the European Works Council and separately with the National Works Council in the UK." The site at Llanelli produces copper wire for the company's operations across Europe.
The company's copper wire divisions supply more than 50,000 tonnes of the product a year. But the firm said it was no longer financially viable to import the raw copper rods into the UK, which are then turning into the wire.
"We have to buy the rods from the continent, and ship it to the UK, draw wire from it, and then ship it back to our factories in Europe," Mr Bosman said.
"So that means the cost has increased quite tremendously in the last two years, and economically it is not wise to maintain this production site."
The company's copper wire divisions supply more than 50,000 tonnes of the product a year, across 15 European countries and Russia.
Across Europe, the firm has a workforce of 9,000 people, with an annual turnover of £1.6 billion.Across Europe, the firm has a workforce of 9,000 people, with an annual turnover of £1.6 billion.
Draka said it hoped some of the Llanelli staff could be transferred to its Derby cable operations, which will now increase its copper wire production.
Mr Bosman added: "Also on the continent, in Europe, we will increase the copper wire drawing production and they will also get an opportunity to move to the continent, if they want."