Ardagh Glass, formerly known as Rockware Glass, has confirmed it will be closing two production lines due to a ‘downturn in demand’ from some of its major customers.
According to staff, the move will place jobs at risk. A total of 384 people are employed at the glass bottle and jar manufacturing plant in Wheatley, but it has not yet been confirmed exactly how many jobs are at risk at the factory.
Staff at the plant have been told that between 50 and 60 jobs were likely to be lost in April.
An Ardagh glass spokesman confirmed that the company’s other glass production plants in Barnsley, Knottingley in West Yorkshire and Irvine in Ayrshire, Scotland will not be affected by this decision.
“We regret having to make this decision, but in order to remain competitive and safeguard other jobs in a very challenging market place we have had to reduce our operating costs.”
Consultation regarding the impact on jobs is currently underway with union representatives.
Rockware moved to a new state-of-the-art plant in 2001, which enabled it to store more than 75 million bottles and jars.