A MASSIVE jobs blow could be on the cards as a manufacturer confirmed it was consulting with employees about the closure of its Barry plant.

Around 100 employees face redundancy from Zeon Chemicals Europe Limited, Sully, and sources close to the Barry & District News claimed employees, believed to be mainly Barry-based, were now dealing with redundancy offers and seeking employment elsewhere.

A Zeon spokesman said negotiations were still taking place.

Zeon, whose European headquarters is based in Dusseldorf, Germany, is in the top league of world manufacturers of synthetic rubbers.

Its website states that it is the market leader in the development and production of oil resistant speciality rubbers for automobile components and that with a strong focus on research and development, Zeon leads the world in the manufacture, processing and sales of a vast range of petrochemical products.

Its products are used in the automotive sector, the aeronautics industry, and in machinery and leisure goods.

Zeon products worldwide are grouped under five core businesses: synthetic rubbers and lattices, plastics and chemicals, speciality chemicals, life sciences and biotechnology, and medical products.

On March, 31 this year Zeon Chemicals Europe Limited, Sully, Vale of Glamorgan, a wholly owned subsidiary of Zeon Corporation, 1-6-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan, announced it was “considering the discontinuation of its production operation and has entered into consultation with its employees regarding this.”

It added: “The primary reasons for the consideration are: uncertainty in long term availability and supply of primary raw materials to the UK site (and) changing market conditions.”

Zeon Chemicals Europe Ltd operations director, James Hooper, in a statement to the Barry & District News, on Friday, June 19, said: “We are currently in the process of consulting with our employees regarding the possible closure of the plant and any potential redundancies.

“Until these consultations are complete the only information we can give is what is posted on our website.”

He added that when any final decisions were made the company would be happy to answer questions.

Vale MP Alun Cairns said he was “disappointed to learn about any potential job losses in Barry.”

He said: “I have contacted Zeon Chemicals to let employees and the company know that I would be happy to meet and discuss any issues.

“We have seen very positive developments in the local job market over the past couple of years, but I am saddened that to see that some well-paid skilled jobs could be lost to the area. There is a wider challenge in ensuring that Barry is attractive to business. I speak with some local companies who have trouble finding suitable premises, and larger spaces that could house a major employer are few and far between – I want to change that. Barry has fantastic assets in a skilled workforce and natural attractions that make it a wonderful place to live and work. Unemployment in the Vale is three per cent and I expect to see that figure continue to fall as prospects improve.”

Vale AM Jane Hutt said she was “Very concerned that my constituents will be affected by this worrying news regarding Zeon."