Sealine to scale back production
By IBI Magazine
The UK's Sealine International today revealed plans to significantly scale back production in light of the current economic downturn, resulting in the loss of around 297 staff — almost half of its entire workforce.
Beginning in early 2009, the company will streamline its overall manufacturing footprint from its three sites at Kidderminster, Hartlebury and Burntwood, into one consolidated facility at Sealine's main site in Kidderminster, near Birmingham.
"It is with great regret that we are planning these changes, but they are necessary given the current leisure marine market conditions and economic environment," says Sealine managing director Steve Coultate. "We need to take action to protect the long-term prospects of both our company and our international dealer network.
"The actions we are taking will leave us well positioned to respond to a market upturn, when it comes. We will seek to minimise the number of compulsory redundancies by inviting applications for voluntary redundancies and for all of those employees affected we will be providing a full consultation and counselling programme."
Founded by Tom Murrant in 1972, Sealine offers a wide range of sports cruisers, flybridge cruisers and motoryachts from 8m-18m (25ft-60ft) in length. The company produces more than 300 yachts per year and employs some 659 staff.
(10 October 2008)
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