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Black October

Posted by Andrew Mernin on October 16, 2007 9:15 AM | 

October has been a terrible month for the region's manufacturing industry.

First off there was the colossal blow of the Atmel closure with 600 jobs set to be axed in the new year.

Next up was the announcement that bosses at the Electrolux factory in Spennymoor have just two months to save its future and the future of its 500-strong workforce.

The Swedish firm will compare operation costs at the cooker factory to those in Poland.

And then there was the news that Stadium Plastics, which employs 360 people in Hartlepool, had gone into receivership.

The plant will remain operational for now but for how long, who knows.

All in all there's been very little good news on the manufacturing front for the region this month.

And, as countries in the Far East and eastern Europe continue to be cheaper places to do business, I fear we could see more similar bad news in the future unless we continue to attract global manufacturers into the region with our skilled workforce, excellent infrastructure and the superb support of bodies such as NEPIC and One NorthEast.

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Comments (2)

R SMITH wrote...

I THINK IT IS A DISGRACE AT ATMEL CORPORATION AS A WORKER THERE WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO OPEN UP MACHINES AND TO UP PRODUCTION FULL STEAM DO THESES FIRMS KNOW WHAT HARDSHIP THEY WILL BE DOING TO THE WORKFORCE THERE WHO ARE COMMITED EMPLOYEES .
WE HAVE PLENTY ORDERS THERE ITS JUST SHEER GREED THAT THEY HAVE DECIDED TO PULL THE PLUG ON SUCH A GOOD BUISNESS
THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO PAY BACK ALL THE FUNDING THEY HAVE RECIEVED

Posted by: R SMITH  | October 16, 2007 12:32 PM

Ian from Prudhoe wrote...

Does the North East still have a manufacturing sector??Are you counting a few foreign companies whom are only here for two reasons,to tap into the European markets, and the funding packages available??Does anybody seriously think Nissan,Komatsu etc would stay here in this region once the Government or the One North East grants stop? Viasystems,Fujitsu,Samsung,Siemens etc spring to mind. The only growing businesses in this country are those involved in Health and Safety regulations,personal injury solicitors,debt managment firms,B&Q stores and Tesco supermarkets.This whole country's,and not just this regions manufacturing base is just one big sick joke, that sadly, is only getting worse.I started my small business in this region eleven years ago, but I wouldn't recommend anybody of sane mind to do the same in todays beaurocratic and overly officious times.

Posted by: Ian from Prudhoe  | October 17, 2007 1:31 PM

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