Automotive injection moulder Peguform (GB-Luton LU2 0NB) was to cease trading in the UK in early June because of falling orders. Both its plants at Luton producing painted car components were to close, with the loss of 200 jobs. A company spokesman told Plasteurope.com there had been a continuing decline in the forward order book and it now had insufficient ongoing business to continue trading.

Peguform, owned by Venture Industries (Fraser, Michigan / USA; www.ventureindustries.com), started to hit trouble when its US parent had to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year. As a result, the German subsidiary, Peguform GmbH (D-79261 Bötzingen; www.peguform.de), was forced into administration. Uncertainty over the group´s future exacerbated the fall in business in the UK, which had been badly affected by the closure of the Vauxhall “Vectra” assembly line in Luton and transfer of production to Ellesmere Port. Peguform said it does not have sufficient cash resources to seek a buyer. Negotiations with one global automotive group collapsed.