A MAJOR Tavistock company has announced 15 jobs are to be axed ? cutting the workforce by more than a quarter.
Superwinch, the US-owned manufacturer and distributor of high-speed winches, announced the redundancies as part of a business restructuring programme.
Up to 15 jobs will be lost from the total workforce of 51, when the well-established company rationalises its manufacturing operation and begins an investment programme focusing on the servicing, repair and distribution side of the business.
Candidates for potential redundancy will be informed tomorrow (Friday), with consultations taking place next week and, subject to a final decision, a notice period starting at the end of the following week.
Paul Jarvis, director of operations at Superwinch, said: ?Global factors beyond our control, including the strong pound and increasing competition due to lower labour and social costs overseas, have forced our hand.?
But despite the bad news for employees, Mr Jarvis said there was still hope for better times in the future.
He said: ?The difficulties we are currently facing have made us re-appraise our position and we have been able to identify new market opportunities, which we believe will lead to a period of growth in the not too distant future ? this could well include an increase in the workforce at that time.?
Mr Jarvis said management at Superwinch were ?optimistic? about the long-term future of the company and its ability to re-emerge as a main player in the global winch market.
?It is never easy to downsize an operation, for whatever sound economic reasons, or however temporary it may prove to be. However, it would be remiss of us if we did not take the tough decisions which ensure the long term future of the business ? and the welfare of the majority of the workforce.
And Superwinch has pledged to provide ?as much support and assistance as possible? in finding alternative work for those affected by the redundancy announcement.
Mr Jarvis said: ?If plans for future growth unfold as we hope, we certainly wouldn?t rule out re-employing any former employee. Despite the current circumstances, we greatly value their skills and experience.?
Neil Devons, Superwinch spokesman, said ?difficult decisions? had to be faced by the company, in order to protect the business.
?I think it?s a case of one step back in order to take two or three forward,? he said. ?Superwinch are remaining in Tavistock, what they are doing is re-focussing.?
Mr Devons said it was difficult to say in which departments the redundancies would be made, before the outcome of consultations during the coming week.
The Fairey Winches company was originally established in Tavistock 27 years ago. It was bought out by Superwinch some years later ? the company has one other main manufacturing base, situated in Connecticut, USA.
Superwinch products are used in a wide variety of markets, including vehicle recovery, vehicle body-building, fire and rescue work, agriculture, forestry, leisure and off-road 4x4 sectors.
The company, which last year turned over more than £4.8-million, is also ISO9001 standard accredited and a supplier to the UK Ministry of Defence.