Hitachi plant to close

The plan is to close the plant at the end of the year

Hitachi has confirmed plans to close its television manufacturing plant at Hirwaun with the loss of 174 jobs.

The company - one of the first Japanese firms to open a factory in south Wales - has announced a formal consultation period with staff and unions with a view to closing the plant at the end of this year.

Just under a year ago Hitachi announced 350 redundancies at the plant.

Ann Clwyd MP: Surprised

Ann Clwyd, the Cynon Valley MP, described the news as a "body blow"

"It's one of the biggest employers in the Cynon Valley an an are where it will be difficult to replace jobs of this kind," said Ms Clwyd.

A company spokesman said that Hitachi intended to concentrate on hi-tech products such as DVD camcorders, DVD in-car navigation systems and plasma displays rather than more conventional products, such as televisions.

The company have said that with the phasing out of the types of televisions assembled at Hirwaun, there will "no longer be a role" for the factory.

Roger James, AEEU's Welsh secretary said there will be a meeting on Monday on site to discuss the redundancies.

"They have been making losses and cannot sustain any them any longer.

Television plants

"They have had a good record in Wales, it is a very very sad event, an absolute shame," Mr James said.

Last year Panasonic, Sony and Hitachi announced more than 2,000 redundancies at plants in south Wales.

Hitachi axed 350 jobs claiming it had lost nearly £20m in the past five years because of the drop in the price of televisions.

Meanwhile Japanese electronics giant Sony cut 400 jobs at its television plants at Bridgend and neighbouring Pencoed.