Wadkin Group is closing its classical woodworking machinery production arm Wadkin Manufacturing with the loss of 26 jobs.
The company said that the move was part of a strategic re-focus of the business and that it would now concentrate on the development of its UltraCare machine service support division and its machinery import operation, which supplies Ledinek, Sicar, Salvador, Uniteam and Robinson equipment.
Wadkin Manufacturing at its peak was supplying 300 classical machines a year, but the company said demand had fallen significantly in the face of cheaper imported competition. As a result, the business started to have “detrimental effect on the more successful and profitable elements of the Group”.
“It is unfortunate that we have had to make so many job cuts as part of this restructuring, but it is vital for the long-term viability of the company,” said Wadkin Group managing director Peter Smith.
More details in this week’s TTJ magazine.
