The move, part of a reorganisation of the company’s UK operations, means that a total of 360 jobs will be affected at the site, of which 160 production roles are to be moved to the company’s other manufacturing facility in Ballygawley, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Sandvik will continue to employ some 80 staff at the Swadlincote site for support, marketing and aftermarket activities.
It is understiood that production is likely to be wound down over the next 12 months and will be fully transferred to Ballygawley by early 2015.
“Since the major turndown in 2008/9, the global market for our products has not recovered as fast as we had hoped,” said Terry Allison, Sandvik managing director.
“We are currently running two factories at 50% capacity, which is neither efficient nor sustainable. In order to stay competitive, we propose moving all our production to the Ballygawley site, which is the right size to meet both current and anticipated demand for our mobile crushers and screens.”
