Jobs fear in Shimizu shake-up

Jobs could be lost at one of the main employers in Welshpool because it is undergoing 're-structuring', bosses said today.

Shimizu Industry UK Limited, which is based on the Buttington Enterprise Park, said a 'small number' of permanent staff may be made redundant, although it would not say exactly how many could be affected.

The factory makes moulded plastic parts for a variety of industries which includes global brands like Epson, Honda and Jaguar.

The firm, which made 30 permanent staff and an unconfirmed number of temporary staff redundant in January 2010, is better known as SI-UK in Welshpool.

In a statement, the firm said it was looking at company re-structuring following a continued 'difficult trading situation'.

A joint statement, issued today by Kenji Sakamaki, managing director, and Trevor Gaughan, executive director, said: "Due to the continuing difficult trading situation SI-UK needs to reorganise its company structure. This may result in a small number of permanent staff being made redundant."

The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Shimizu Industry Co Ltd in Japan which is a member of the Denso Corporation.