Over 200 jobs are under threat following news that US-owned gas supply fittings manufacturer Crane Building Services & Utilities plans to close its St Helens site.
The business, which supplies gas distribution fittings, pipeline equipment and valves, said it plans move its manufacturing operation elsewhere by March 2015 but wasn’t specific on the planned new location.
Crane acquired the business at St Helens in 2008, which had previously been subject to a management buyout from Delta.
In a statement, the company said: “Consultation with the 216-strong workforce has commenced and the company proposals, which include redundancy, will be discussed over forthcoming weeks.
“The St Helens site is an ageing facility with significant investment required to operate efficiently and to bring it up to world class manufacturing standards.
“The company owns other facilities in the UK which all have significant capacity for expansion and the company confirmed it would continue to invest into these facilities to sustain its world class manufacturing processes.”
