NUREMBERG, Germany—Zeon Corp. expects to complete its plans to close down its synthetic rubber plant in Wales by the end of 2015, according Hubert Thimm, head of sales at the group's European operations.
The plant is the Japanese group's only European manufacturing site. Built in the 1950s, it was bought by Zeon from BP Chemicals in 1989.
Zeon announced the closure plans in April, citing changing market conditions and uncertainty in the long-term availability and supply of primary raw materials to the UK site.
The plant's production slate includes about 10,000 tons per year of nitrile rubber, which is mainly exported to Europe.
According to Thimm, the capacity will be taken up by Zeon's North American and Japanese operations.