Shock as Lexmark move to close Rosyth plant

Computer printer manufacturer Lexmark has announced the closure of its cartridge production plant in Rosyth, Scotland.

Workers this morning were told that there would be a meeting at noon. The employees were then informed that as part of a restructuring plan, 500 jobs were to be axed by April, with the other 200 to go later in the year.

Lexmark announced the restructuring plan in a bid to improve its operating costs.

The Kentucky-based manufacturer said that as part of the restructuring it planned to "eliminate or transfer" approximately 1,350 positions - of these, around 825 positions were being axed, and approximately 525 positions were being transferred from various locations worldwide primarily to countries with lower costs.

This plan included the consolidation of its manufacturing capacity, with the closure of the company’s Rosyth inkjet cartridge manufacturing facility, and the reduction of operating expenses focused in the areas of supply chain, as well as marketing and sales functions.

The Rosyth plant's General Manager Alan Spiers said the company "truly regret the loss of jobs" and acknowledged that the employees had contributed to the firm's success in the last 10 years.

It is understood that a meeting in Rosyth was scheduled between Scottish Enterprise representatives and senior Lexmark management later today.

(SP/CL)