Car components factory axes staff

A motor industry component factory in Staffordshire is to make 200 more people redundant.

It brings the total number of staff laid off at ThyssenKrup Tallent in Cannock, to 386 since the summer.

The Wolverhampton Road plant will now employ 500 people, compared to 960 staff at its height earlier in 2008.

A spokeswoman said the cuts were due to car manufacturers planning to make fewer vehicles next year as a result of the economic downturn.

It added it would do all it could to minimise the number of compulsory redundancies.

Job cuts

Options such as short-time working, sabbaticals, extended study leave and retraining are being considered.

Those staff affected were likely to be made redundant in February.

The latest announcement comes two weeks after 85 office and production staff at the factory were made redundant.

In October it axed 35 employees and a further 60 temporary workers were laid off in the summer.

The plant manufactures metal pressings and body assemblies.

Recently the company said it was "better placed than many other automotive suppliers" because of its "broad customer base and recent new product introductions".