Shropshire Star

30 jobs at risk as JCB announce plant closure

A JCB factory is to close with the loss of around 30 jobs.

Published
The Newtown site

Workers at JCB Power Products in Newtown, which makes generators, were told the plant will close in the coming weeks.

They were told they will be offered alternative employment at one of the companies other sites across the country. The closest JCB factory is at Wrexham, around 45 miles away.

The construction equipment giant said today it was restructuring its JCB Power Products arm to concentrate on its sites in Staffordshire and in India.

Newtown councillor David Selby, said the town council was very disturbed to hear the news which showed how fragile the local economy was.

He said he hoped JCB could be persuaded to re-think its decision or at the very least, look after the employees.

"This will have a great effect on local families," he said.

"If Power Products does close I hope that another business can be attracted to the site on the Mochdre industrial estate."

He said companies should be encouraged by the soon to be open Newtown bypass.

"The opening of the bypass will make Newtown a more attractive place to re-site businesses. It will help the connectivity to other areas and make the town much more financially viable."

JCB spokesman Nigel Chell said: "JCB Power Products has announced a restructuring, which will allow the company to concentrate on its core business of manufacturing a range of diesel powered generators.

"Generator production will now be centred on existing JCB Power Products’ facilities in Hixon, Staffordshire and Delhi, India. As a result, the JCB Power Products’ plant in Newtown will close.

"All affected employees will be offered the opportunity of redeployment to roles within the wider JCB group."

The international firm, JCB, began producing diesel generators in 2006 and sells its 200-strong range through network of more than 150 dealers.

JCB is the world’s third largest construction equipment brand, has 22 plants on four continents: 11 in the UK, six in India and others in Brazil, the USA and China and employs more than 12,000 people worldwide.