Around 300 of the roughly 460 employees at Austrian semi-finished plastics specialist Senoplast Klepsch (Piesendorf; www.senoplast.com) may be placed on short-time working from 1 October 2008. Managing director Wilhelm Klepsch told Plasteurope.com that action is necessary, as orders have slumped due to the general economic downswing. Working hours will be reduced by 10-20% depending on department, and Klepsch hopes this will be for at most three months. The works council has yet to give its formal approval, but has indicated that it will not oppose the move. “Short-time working means continued employment,” Klepsch stressed, saying that the company wants to avoid dismissals if at all possible.

Senoplast produces semi-finished plastic sheet and rigid film from ABS; ABS blends with PMMA, PC and ASA; PS and PET, principally for technical applications. Its main markets are cars, furniture and white goods. In addition to the main site in Piesendorf, the company has a production facility in Mexico. Sales came to around EUR 116m in 2006/2007 and output to 42,000 t. More than 95% of production is exported. Senoplast has six associated companies in Austria, engaged in plastics products, machinery manufacture, R&D and sales.