Redundancies are “likely” at a factory in Stowmarket where more than 500 people are employed.

Bosch, which manufactures lawn and garden products at its plant in the town, has said a reduction in production could result in up to 45 redundancies. The plans also include the non renewal of contacts for about 120 agency staff.

Bosch said it was planning to make “significant changes” to its lawn and garden division, including new production locations in Hungary and China for a new, value-focused range of lawnmowers.

A spokeswoman for Bosch said: “The planned reduction in production will require the current staffing structure to be adapted.

“The first step would be the non renewal of contracts with agency workers. This will mitigate the effects of the changes on permanent employees.

“Regrettably it is likely, but not inevitable, that redundancies would need to be proposed amongst Bosch employees albeit no redundancies have been proposed at present.

“It is currently unclear when and over what period the workforce would need to reduce.”

To avoid compulsory redundancies or reduce the numbers the company is looking at possible re-deployment for staff, flexible working and voluntary redundancies, she added.

Bosch said it was “committed” to securing the long-term profitability and future of the Stowmarket site, and as a result had invested more than £5million to make it ready to manufacture the next generation of high-value lawn and garden products.

But in order to enter the opposite end of the market profitably, it was necessary to locate production of the value-focused range to sites where costs are lower. Bosch currently employees more than 400 permanent staff at its Stowmarket plant.