40 JOBS TO GO AT GREAT PLAINS UK
Most losses in fabrication and welding
Agricultural machinery manufacturer, Great Plains UK, has made around 40 workers redundant at their Sleaford, Lincolnshire, premises as part of reorganising their business.
The majority of those who have last their jobs worked in the welding and fabrication departments. However, the company says that product development and other key operations will continue at the Sleaford site.
David Holmes, UK sales director at Great Plains UK Ltd, is quoted by The Lincolnshire Echo as saying, "The company has reorganised to a practice of sourcing fabrications and weldments from markets with favourable currency exchange rates, which has unfortunately led to a reduction in the staffing in relevant departments. "Product development, preparation, assembly, parts, service, sales and marketing will continue to be the cornerstone of the Sleaford operations enabling the company to fulfil its long term strategy for growth within the agricultural equipment market." The local paper says that the firm blames a combination of currency issues, along with current slow overall agricultural market conditions as forcing them to reorganise the manufacturing process and other operations at Sleaford.It's reported that some workers have taken voluntary redundancy while some agency employees have also been axed as part of the company's restructuring process.
Great Plains purchased Sleaford-based Simba International in 2010. Following the buyout significant investment was made in the facility in order to transform it into the Great Plains UK Ltd headquarters for Western Europe. An additional 34,000 square feet of factory space was added as well as offices and stores being substantially extended and refurbished.
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