This is Cornwall --BOSSES at scientific engineering company Pall have assured workers at its St Columb site their jobs are safe – despite the news that the company's Redruth plant will move to Slovakia.
A source close to Pall Newquay, which produces medical products and employs around 330 people, told the Cornish Guardian that up to 30 jobs were being axed, on top of the 175 at Redruth.
But Huw Chapman, the international company's managing director for Europe, said on Monday there was no truth in the rumours.
He said: "While it is our policy not to respond to rumours or speculation, I can confirm that the statement [regarding job losses at Pall Newquay] … is not correct."
The company operates four sites in the UK, at St Columb, Redruth, Portsmouth and Ilfracombe, and primarily manufactures filtration products for the healthcare and aerospace industries.
The source said the redundancies had come as a huge shock, as the Pall sites in Cornwall had been performing well, with the Redruth factory receiving a productivity award last year.
The facility is due to close in 2015, and it is understood that staff are being asked to train the Slovakian workers who will take the new jobs.
The man said: "Not only is it a blow for Pall Redruth, this relocation will affect many other local companies who supply Pall with parts.
"They have said it is only Pall Redruth which will be affected, but there are going to be 30 redundancies at the Newquay plant.
"For a plant which is the most productive worldwide and generates the most money worldwide, how can they justify relocating to another country when they have the best workforce right here in Cornwall?"
A spokesman for Pall said the new factory in Slovakia would have "minimal impact" on staffing levels at their manufacturing plants in Portsmouth, Ilfracombe, and Newquay.
"However, we will be transferring the majority of our industrial manufacturing operations from our Redruth site to the new Slovakian location," he said.
"The move is part of our continued effort to ensure we are structured to deliver high-quality products and superior service to our customers worldwide.
"This includes developing dedicated centres that improve the effectiveness of our operations and make it easier for customers to do business with Pall." Reported by This is 4 hours ago.