UK loses jobs to Tennessee

A chemical plant in Hartlepool in the UK is to be shut down with a loss of 75 jobs and production switched to the US.

The Eastman Chemical plant makes a range of copolyester products. The material is used to make items ranging from packaging for medical and cosmetic products to ink pen components, toys, sporting goods and housewares.

Eastman expects to transfer most of the production to Tennessee, where the company is based, but it also has a copolyester manufacturing plant in Malaysia, which can meet demand for the products as needed.

“The decision to close the Hartlepool site was a difficult one,” said Jim Rogers, president of the company’s Eastman Division.

“But by consolidating production at sites that are more integrated through our raw material stream, we’ll be able to sustain over the long term our ability to continue to provide customers with consistent high-quality copolyester products on a global basis.”

Eastman makes and markets chemicals, fibres and plastics worldwide. The company has about 15,000 employees in about 30 countries. In 2003, sales totalled €4.8bn.