End of era as factory jobs go

UP TO 20 jobs are to be lost with the end of manufacturing at a north Essex company formed more than 100 years ago. Eimco Water Technologies, formerly known as Brackett Green, is consulting over redundancies among its fabrication staff in Colchester, which is likely to reduce its headcount at the Brunel Way site from 100 to around 80.

UP TO 20 jobs are to be lost with the end of manufacturing at a north Essex company formed more than 100 years ago.

Eimco Water Technologies, formerly known as Brackett Green, is consulting over redundancies among its fabrication staff in Colchester, which is likely to reduce its headcount at the Brunel Way site from 100 to around 80.

Managing director Mark Hodder said the consultation process was likely to take a further week or so to complete, and the company would do what it could to minimise job losses.

Non-manufacturing operations, including design, engineering, project management, sales and marketing would continue to be based in the town, said Mr Hodder.

However, the company was planning to leave its current six-acre site and move its remaining operations to more suitable office accommodation within the next year to so, he added.

Eimco, part of Canadian-based Groupe Laperriere & Verreault (GLP), is a global company specialising in equipment for treating water for domestic and industrial use, including the treatment of waste water and effluents.

The Colchester operation, main known for water screening equipment for industry, notably for power stations, refineries and desalination plants, was acquired by GLV from the French utility company Suez in November 2005.

It was established in 1899 by F W Brackett and operated from various sites in the Hythe area of Colchester before relocating to its current home on the Severalls Industrial Estate in 1980.

GLV, which also has interests in pulp and paper, was formed in 1975 and now around 1,600 employees in 30 countries.