Merlin casts spell to rescue Welsh PCB maker KemitronSteve BushTroubled Deeside-based PCB maker Kemitron has been rescued from closure by buyer Merlin Circuit Technology.
Merlin will move its Brighton PCB plant up to Deeside, north Wales.
"Neil Martin, owner of Merlin Circuit Technology in Brighton, has purchased the assets of Kemitron and SJMJ, Kemitron's holding company. This gives it the factory and the five acre site," said Dennis Price, former technical and quality manager of Kemitron. "Over the next few months the company will be winding down manufacture in Brighton."
Around 20 staff had already been made redundant from Kemitron and the future of the remaining 70 rested on its successful sale after the firm went into administration in February.
Merlin Circuits (Deeside), Kemitron's temporary name, will gain flexi and flexi-ridged PCB manufacturing capability out of the move said Price.
It is likely, said Price, that Merlin Circuits (Deeside) will eventually be re-named Merlin Circuit Technology.
What is good news for Deeside may not be good for Brighton as job losses are inevitable in East Sussex.
"The company will be bringing up [to Deeside] as many skilled and senior people as possible," said Price. "The employment situation in Brighton is good, some [former Brighton Merlin] people are getting jobs already."
Neither of the sites would speculate on the number of staff that would lose their jobs in Brighton.
"There are 30 people in total employed in manufacturing here," said Ian Lorimer, Merlin's Brighton-based quality manager.
Some will be going up to Deeside, some will be going to Merlin's sister companies in Lancing [West Sussex], and some will have to find other employment, according to Lorimer.