Wolverhampton to lose 143 jobs in Sandvik plant closure

Sandvik has been established in the UK since 1914 and has a head office in Halesowen

An engineering plant near Wolverhampton is to close with the loss of 143 jobs.

Sandvik Machining Solutions plans to shut its Featherstone plant and move production out of the UK.

A spokesman blamed "excess manufacturing capacity in Europe" and said the closure was necessary to remain competitive.

The company makes metal-cutting tools for engineering, aerospace and car firms, which it said were "not growing in the UK".

The Featherstone plant is expected to close at the end of the year.

The firm said it "very much regrets the need for this action" and has begun discussions with the Unite trade union, which represents many of the workers.

Its Swedish parent company, Sandvik, has other production bases in Coventry, Halesowen and Stoke-on-Trent, as well as other sites in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

It is reorganising its UK operations and in February announced plans to close a plant in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, with the loss of 360 jobs.