RUABON, Wales (May 22, 2008) — Flexsys said it will close its Ruabon rubber chemicals facility this year, eliminating about 150 jobs.
The company said it plans to exit the site permanently by 2011.
Once Flexsys ceases its manufacturing operations at Ruabon, it will no longer participate in the market for the three product lines currently manufactured at that site: Santogard PVI pre-vulcanization inhibitors; Perkacit DPG, which is used as a secondary accelerator in the rubber vulcanization process; and Flectol TMQ and Flectol HPG, which protect against oxidative aging.
Jim Voss, president of Flexsys and senior vice president of its parent, Solutia Inc. said the despite the significant steps the Ruabon management and employees have taken to improve the position of the site, it is unfortunately no longer cost competitive on a global scale.
He said the firm will work to ensure the employees impacted by this change are treated fairly, and that customers have a smooth transition to a new supply arrangement.