Plea to save last chrome maker

Apr 1 2009 by Iain Laing, The Journal

UNION leaders on Teesside have launched a campaign to save the last chromium plant in the European Union.

The 100-plus workers at US-owned Elementis in Eaglescliffe, Stockton, have been sent letters with which to petition local MPs and a meeting will be held to rally support for a drive to save the factory.

Last February the company began a strategic review of the plant and said market pressures made it “less confident of delivering sustainable earnings and cash flow”.

But union bosses say the UK business, which announced a 41% surge in profits as recently as last July, can pay its way and staff accuse its US backers of protectionism. Elementis’s other chrome plants are in the US, where it is the only chrome manufacturer.

Unite regional secretary Bob Bolam said the factory was not only important for the local supply chain, but also for the European chemical industry.

“It’s the only one in the EU that manufactures that particular product. If it was to go, the EU would be reliant on Kazakhstan and China. We want to put together a case for the board to keep this site.”

He “fundamentally disagreed that the Eaglesclifffe plant is not productive ... it’s a good performer”.

He said closure would hit Teesside’s processing sector, already weakened by world events. He said saving the plant was part of an “ongoing campaign on Wilton to make sure it [the chemical sector] survives. Elementis is part of that supply chain”.

His comments were the clearest indication yet that processing bosses are by a series of closures and job cuts.

Loss of Elementis would also be felt at Teesport. “The raw materials for Elementis come from South Africa and go to America via Teesport,” he said.

The company, now in 90 days consultation with staff, insisted no closure decision had been taken, but has warned the Government of the possibility of large-scale redundancies.

The former British Chrome and Chemicals factory employed 400 in 1999.