EoW July 2013

News Corporate

Job losses ahead for Tata? Up to 300-400 jobs may be lost as a result of steel giant Tata Steel’s plans to shut down two research and development facilities in the UK, moving them overseas, including to India. The company informed the UK government of its plans to close its technology centres on Teesside, and in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, over the next 18 months. The Sunday Times reported that Tata might then move this research to the Netherlands and India. In November last year the company revealed plans to restructure its British business; the plans include 12 sites and 900 jobs. Its European operations have been hit by a combination of high energy costs, falling demand and plummeting steel prices – down five per cent in the last month. The European steel operations of Tata, a result of its acquisition of Corus in 2007 for an estimated £6.7 billion, is believed to be operating with towering debts of £3.4 billion. Tata Steel employs around 19,000 workers in Britain and controls 46 per cent of the domestic market. Despite the tough environment, it has invested hundreds of millions of pounds in the British operations, including £185 million on a new blast furnace at Port Talbot in south Wales – the company’s prime asset in the UK.

used mainly in the construction and infrastructure markets. Tata has previously dismissed talk of selling some of its British assets but it is believed the company may seek a partner to invest in its Lincolnshire plant. Tata Steel UK – UK Website : www.tatasteeleurope.com New signing for Zumbach

Zumbach Electronic has boosted its UK team with the appointment of Adam Franklin as customer service engineer. Mr Franklin joined the Swiss company after gaining more than ten years’ experience in the field of vision inspection and measurement. He has already completed his new service team member’s training at Zumbach’s head office in Switzerland.

▲ ▲ New customer service engineer Adam Franklin

Zumbach Electronic Ltd – UK Website : www.zumbach.com

Its other large plant in Scunthorpe produces flat-steel products,

15

www.read-eurowire.com

July 2013