ALL 80 jobs could be cut at SKF bearings manufacturing unit in Stonehouse under plans to relocate production to existing plants elsewhere in Europe.

In a statement released last week, the engineering giant, which provides products and services to sectors including manufacturing, aerospace and renewable energy, said it has entered into talks with employees and unions at its Super Precision Bearings manufacturing unit in Oldends Lane.

It occupies the site alongside the firm’s larger Aeroengine Bearings unit, which is unaffected by the plans.

Operating solely for the machine tool industry, the firm’s super precision bearings division has one plant in the UK and two in Italy.

All three facilities have experienced a downturn in the market, but this year the rate of decline has accelerated rapidly.

Bosses said the Stonehouse unit is the smallest, the most remote from customers and has the weakest financial performance.

SKF’s UK managing director, Sharon Smith, said: "Unfortunately, we do not anticipate this trend reversing in the foreseeable future and therefore have to look at ways to reduce our production costs and overall capacity in line with market demand.

"We have made a number of cutbacks at all three factories, but the increased severity and speed of decline in demand leaves us with little option but to take far more drastic measures to protect the long term future of our Super Precision Bearings business as a whole".

The purpose of the consultation period is to consider alternative options to relocation and to explore ways to minimise the impact on staff.

"We will do our best to find an alternative and to minimise any number of redundancies that may be necessary," added Mrs Smith.

"To date our Aeroengine business has remained steady, so there may be opportunities for redeployment.

"We do, however, have to ensure that we safeguard the long term viability of the overall business, while continuing to provide the best combination of products and services to our customers".

Founded in 1907, SKF employs almost 45,000 workers in 110 manufacturing units worldwide.

In the UK it operates from 19 locations and employs more than 1,000 staff.

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