Blow as firm closes down

A Shropshire company has closed down after 30 years with the loss of 75 jobs.Directors of Norfran, based at Alveley Industrial Estate near Bridgnorth, said it was “heartbreaking” to have to tell staff of the closure.

Managers are holding talks with administrators this week but staff at the aluminium company were told on Friday that they were being made redundant.

Gavin Young, director, said the factory would close for good tomorrow.

“We have been here for 30 years and a lot of people have worked here for about 25 years and it breaks your heart,” he said.

“It is a combination of everything. Rising gas and electricity prices, rent and competition.

“Over the last five years we have lost so many big customers to China, Bulgaria and other countries, we just can’t compete. It’s such a shame.

“Seventy-five people worked here and we have laid off everybody.

“Financially it is very, very hard for us to make any money at all. As a family company we have been putting money in for a long time and it comes to a time when enough is enough.

“As manufacturers you get no help from the Government at all, it is such a difficult business.”

One former staff member, Martin Griffiths, of Stourbridge, said people were very disappointed with the situation.

He said: “At the moment everyone is looking for new jobs but there is nothing around here, there’s not much about.

“We do feel hard done by to be honest, it could have been handled a bit better.”

District councillor for Alveley, Colin Taylor, said the factory closing was a serious blow to the area’s economy.

He said: “We are concerned for people and they face an uncertain time at the moment.

“It will be the second business to have gone from the industrial estate in just over 12 months.

“It’s not good news but I am sure the council will be working hard to bring in more businesses as soon as possible.”

Norfran specialises in manufacturing aluminium and zinc alloy diecastings, and has another factory in the north east of England which is run entirely separately to the Shropshire base.

By Simon Alton