British printer firm cuts 700 jobs

British computer printer firm Lexmark announced today it is to axe 700 jobs with the closure of a manufacturing plant.

The factory in Rosyth, Fife, which produces inkjet cartridges, will be shut down by the end of the year.

Further cuts are expected to be announced at the US-based company’s offices in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.

The losses at Rosyth have been blamed on high production and maintenance costs at the site.

Around 500 employees will go by the end of April before the plant is shut down at the end of the year.

The news has come as a major setback for Labour, which faces a crucial by-election in the area.

British chancellor Gordon Brown launched the party’s Dunfermline and Fife West campaign yesterday, promising to create thousands of jobs in the region.

Scottish Secretary Alistair Darling described the losses as “disappointing”.

He said: “I am extremely disappointed to hear that Lexmark propose to close their Scottish operations.

“We now need an urgent response from everyone; Jobcentre Plus, Scottish Enterprise, Fife Council, Careers Scotland – everyone who can offer support on retraining, upskilling and employment opportunities.”

“We will continue to fight for new jobs in Scotland.”

General manager of the plant Alan Spiers said in a statement that the company “truly regret” the loss of jobs.

He added: “While we do not have the ability to change the impact of technology or economics, we nevertheless recognise the challenges facing our employees and their families.”

Lexmark International Inc is involved in the development of printers and accessories as well as their manufacture and supply.

It has several other manufacturing centres located across the globe which it said were cheaper to maintain.

Job cuts are also being made at the company HQ in Kentucky as well as at its operations in France and Mexico. Around 1,400 jobs will go in total.

Labour’s political opponents seized on today’s announcement. Liberal Democrat by-election candidate Willie Rennie said: “It is important to keep these jobs and skills in the area and I am determined to fight for new investment and business for Dunfermline and West Fife.

“This news will come as a bitter pill to local people as these job losses come the day after the Labour Party boasted of its record on employment in Fife.”

Ted Brocklebank, Tory MSP for mid-Scotland and Fife, said: “This makes it all the more surprising that Gordon Brown seems to have been oblivious to these developments in his own backyard.”

But Mr Darling said: “The jobs market is changing across the world, but our stable economy means that we will continue to win jobs for Scotland,” he said.

“In the last eight years, 10,000 jobs have been created in Fife and our aim is to create 10,000 more in the next decade.

“This is exactly why the Dunfermline and West Fife by-election is about jobs and the economy.”

Details of the losses at Marlow’s administrative centre, which employs about 100 people, were not yet known.

A meeting was taking place with staff today, the firm said.