HEIDELBERG and Metsä Board unite with new strategic collaboration
As part of a new collaboration, HEIDELBERG and Metsä Board will join forces to develop a range of new packaging innovations
Ricoh UK has confirmed that some of its office toner production will move from the UK to France, with phased activities beginning in May
A number of UK news publications have reported on major changes to the operations of Ricoh UK’s toner facility in Telford.
Ricoh UK Products (RPL) is a major manufacturing and digital services facility located in Telford, Shropshire. Established in 1983, it has served as a key hub for Ricoh's European operations for over 40 years. The site's total headcount is estimated at roughly 400 to 600 employees.
According to The Shropshire Star, Ricoh UK has now decided to move around 70% of its office-related toner production from its UK plant in Telford to the Etria Manufacturing facility in France, which it claims puts “hundreds of jobs on the line.”
However, these figures are not confirmed and a report on the situation by the BBC says that Ricoh has not specified how many roles could be at risk.
An official statement by a representative of Ricoh UK quoted in The Shropshire Star states: “We can confirm that Etria has announced changes to the production of office-related toner in Europe.
“As part of a planned transition, some production will move from Ricoh UK Products (RPL) in the UK to Etria Manufacturing France, with phased activities beginning in May. The information was shared with our employees today, and we are committed to supporting them throughout this transition. We do not expect any impact on customers or service levels during this period.”
An unnamed spokesperson of Ricoh UK also said to the BBC: "Consultation has not yet begun and it would not be appropriate to comment on specific site headcount ahead of that formal process. What we can say is that the proposed changes relate to only part of our Telford-based business."
Telford MP, Shaun Davies, is quoted in The Shropshire Star as being “deeply disappointed” by the news.
In his statement, Davies goes on to say: “While I understand that businesses need to respond to global pressures to remain competitive, the impact on workers [and] their families here in Telford cannot be overstated.
“I have already heard from concerned local employees, and I know just how worrying this news is for them.”
In the statement, which was also quoted in Shropshire Live, Davies says that he has taken action by requesting an urgent meeting with Ricoh UK leadership. He adds that he has called “for a full explanation of why production is moving abroad,” and questioned what alternatives were considered to retain the jobs in the UK.
Other site functions such as the Customer Experience Centre (CEC) are not expected to be affected by the production shift.
