Bridgend medical supplies plant closure risks 540 jobs

Hundreds of workers left Zimmer Biomet following the announcement of its closure on Thursday morning

An American medical manufacturing firm is to close its plant in south Wales, putting 540 jobs at risk.

Zimmer Biomet, which makes hip and knee replacements, said it would "cease manufacturing" at its Bridgend plant and begin a consultation with staff.

Plant director Maria Silva said she would "evaluate alternatives and how to limit the loss of jobs".

Unite, which represents workers at the plant, said it would "fight for jobs and a viable future for the site".

A spokesperson for Zimmer Biomet said that for the site to remain open "significant investment" would be required to "optimise the product floor and reduce the cost of manufacture".

"Today, Zimmer Biomet announced a proposal to cease manufacturing in Bridgend, Wales," said Ms Silva in a statement outside the factory.

She added that the company was "committed to treating people with dignity and respect and to being as transparent as possible throughout the consultation".

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"Zimmer Biomet employs 540 team members at the manufacturing site," she added.

Ms Silva said the company recognises the "effect a closure would have on team members and the community", but added the focus of the firm is "on maintaining a robust supply chain" to its customers.

Plant director Maria Silva said the firm's focus was on "maintaining a robust supply chain" for its customers

"This announcement does not affect team members in our UK commercial and research and development teams, or at the Bridgend commercial distribution centre," she added.

A company spokesperson added that the minimum consultation period before the closure goes ahead will last three months, but that a longer period is "anticipated".

"Our proposal is for manufacturing to continue up to and potentially in to 2025. An exact date is not possible to provide at this point in the consultation," the spokesperson added.

'Not allowed to talk'

The BBC understands that if the closure goes ahead it will be over an 18 month period - which would see the plant shut its doors at the beginning of 2025.

Hundreds of workers could be seen leaving the plant, which once employed more than 800 people, with some waving goodbye to each other, following a staff meeting at 11:30 BST on Thursday.

"We're not allowed to talk to you, but you can see on our faces it's not good news," said one man who was leaving the factory with a white envelope in his hand.

Diane Inkpen, 78, from Porthcawl called it a "shame for all the young people in this area".

"They have a lot of worries now between feeding their children and keeping a roof over their heads," she said.

Shop owner Jess Reed says her business depends on passing trade from the plant

Jess Reed, 30, owns The Station in Coychurch, an independent shop selling local produce just a few hundred metres from the factory.

"Passing trade we rely on heavily because we are out of the way, so that could be a massive impact on us," she said.

"It could be a massive impact on the local area, not just families, the local economy as well."

Carol McAuley, 74, who lives in the village, added: "It's devastating, I feel so sorry for everybody. It's sad because it happened so suddenly without any warning."

The announcement only affects manufacturing at the plant on Bridgend's Waterton Industrial Estate, with commercial and research and development staff continuing to work at company's commercial distribution centre.

The Welsh government gave £700,000 to a £2.5m expansion of the plant in 2016, which saw 40 new jobs created.

The factory manufactures a range of hip and knee replacement products that are exported globally.

Unite's regional Wales secretary, Peter Hughes called the news "devastating" for its members and their communities.

"Almost 550 well-paid, highly skilled jobs are at stake here, and the Bridgend area cannot absorb the economic impact this closure would bring," he said.

"During the six-month consultation period Unite will fight for jobs and a viable future for the site."

There is palpable shock among everyone I have spoken to about this.

This is a global company that had been in Bridgend for decades and recruited locally, so the impact on the community if closure goes ahead will be significant.

Zimmer Biomet has manufacturing plants in Europe and Asia, which will likely get the work currently done in Bridgend if these 540 jobs go.

I'm told the issue is one of investment in the plant. The site needs an upgrade but there are other plants elsewhere that have already received that investment.

My understanding is that the company did not reach out to Welsh government for any assistance prior to making the announcement.

For the workers at the plant and their families, the next few months will be a very difficult time.

Zimmer Biomet's manufacturing plant is about a mile from another former key employer in Bridgend, the Ford engine plant.

That shut in 2020, ending production after 40 years, with the loss of more than 1,600 jobs.

At the time is was estimated the plant had brought £3bn to the area over the previous 10 years.

Bridgend MS Sarah Murphy wants to know why Zimmer Biomet failed to inform politicians about the closure plans in advance

Sarah Murphy, who represents Bridgend in the Senedd, asked why politicians were not informed about the closure plans sooner.

"They could have let us know beforehand," she told the BBC Radio Wales Phone-in.

"I'm reaching out now…. trying to understand why and if there a chance of protecting these jobs.

"It's just such a shock for everybody. They received Welsh government funding not too long ago and that was to protect jobs at the time."

'Extraordinarily disappointing'

Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said it is "frustrating and extraordinarily disappointing" that Zimmer Biomet did not reach out to the Welsh government before announcing the job cuts.

"The company know very well who the Welsh government is. We have provided support for them in the past, they have a named official in my department to work with," he said.

"My focus now is not just on understanding why the company has made their announcement today but what we can do to potentially retain those jobs."

Huw David, leader of Bridgend council, described it as a "significant blow for staff and the local economy".

Leanne Lewis, who represents Pencoed on Bridgend council, said she has family members who work at the plant.

"This has come as a huge shock," she said. "To be honest I'm utterly speechless."

The Welsh Conservatives' economy spokesman, Paul Davies, called on the Welsh government to take immediate action to help those affected.

"Once again Wales is being hit by more shattering news, on top of figures which showed that unemployment grew in Wales but shrunk in other parts of the UK."

Luke Fletcher, who speaks for Plaid Cymru on economy matters, said it was "important now that unions are given the opportunity to negotiate and that the government steps in to support and protect the workers who need it".

"To that end, I have written to the economy minister for further information on what support will be available," he said.