Norsk Hydro are set to close their Hydro Aluminium Motorcast Ltd plant in Leeds, UK. The plant is scheduled to cease operations in early 2005 pending the outcomes of negotiations.
The closure was brought about by the failure to win sufficient new orders. They have been battling against cheaper imported materials for 10 years and have finally succumbed to the pressure. The last new order came 5 years ago, and the business has failed to register a profit since 1997.
The business is part of castings business unit in Hydro Aluminium Automotive and employs some 612 people who will be made redundant as a result of the closure.
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