The new year did not start off with good news for employees at the plant operated by moulded foam cushion manufacturer Proseat (Mörfelden-Walldorf / Germany; www.proseat.de) in Hulshout / Belgium. Given the plant's poor financial performance in 2010, management told a special works meeting on 14 January that it intends to close the Hulshout plant, whose 153 employees manufacture foam cushions for cars.

Proseat said the closure was the “unavoidable consequence” of increased insourcing in the automotive sector. In addition, the company has lost two large former clients. Wheras General Motors closed its nearby plant in Antwerp last year, Ford has picked Lear as its new partner for the manufacture of car seats, including cushions.

A joint venture between PU processing specialist Recticel (Brussels / Belgium; www.recticel.com) and Woodbridge (Mississauga, Ontario / Canada; www.woodbridgegroup.com), Proseat operates eight production sites in Europe. Last year, the company’s 2,100 employees generated EUR 233m in turnover, of which the Hulshout plant accounted for EUR 17m.