As a result of significant financial losses incurred in 2004, UK profile manufacturer Premier Profiles (GB-Warmsworth, Doncaster DN4 9LS; www.premierprofiles.co.uk) is planning to close its plant with the loss of 220 jobs. The company has been one of the UK´s largest suppliers of uPVC profiles for the UK window and door market with over 20 extrusion lines. It is now undergoing a 90-day consultation period with employees about the impact of the impending closure.

Managing director Mike Semens-Flanagan said the decision to close followed a strategic review of the business, which had resulted in 30 redundancies at the end of last year. “It is with great regret that, with further losses predicted, we have advised staff and customers that we propose to close the business,” said Semens-Flanagan. “The decision has not been taken lightly and is a response to cost and competitive pressures on the business.”

Premier Profiles is a business unit within the Polypipe Group (GB-Doncaster DN12 1ES; www.polypipe.co.uk), which was acquired by the international engineering company IMI (GB-Birmingham B37 7XZ; www.imiplc.com) in 1999. An end-of year-trading statement from IMI said Polypipe sales were ahead of 2003, but were experiencing slower growth than in the first six months. A statement from Premier Profiles announcing its impending closure said “the Polypipe business is very profitable.”