Agfa-Gevaert: Agfa reorganizes its printing plate manufacturing capacity to address the significant decline in market demand
11 June 2020 - 4:45PM
Agfa-Gevaert: Agfa reorganizes its printing plate manufacturing
capacity to address the significant decline in market demand
Mortsel / Belgium, June 11, 2020 – 8.45 a.m.
CET
Agfa today announced its intention to close its printing plate
factories in Pont-à-Marcq (France) and Leeds (United Kingdom).
Faced with a significant and structural decline in demand in the
extremely competitive offset printing market, Agfa has to optimize
its printing plate manufacturing capacity by adjusting it to the
changing market conditions. The decline in demand is characterized
by a strong drop in printing plate volumes and substantial price
erosion. Both plants produce Agfa’s Thermofuse printing plates. The
market demand for this product declines even more substantially
than for most other Agfa printing plates. Unfortunately the market
forecasts do not suggest any improvement in the years to come.
In order to be able to continue its printing plate activities in
a sustainable way, Agfa needs to reorganize its global production
facilities in the most efficient and competitive way.
After having considered all options, Agfa has now informed the
employee representatives and employees of both factories as well as
the related authorities that it intends to close down the two
factories. Unfortunately, this decision would impact 175 employee
positions in Pont-à-Marcq (France) and 76 employee positions in
Leeds (UK) respectively. Closing two plants in different countries
is a tough decision, but taking this step is absolutely necessary
to maintain Agfa’s presence in the offset market. Agfa management
is well aware that such announcement brings a lot of emotions and
will do its utmost to mitigate the impact on the employees affected
by this intended restructuring.
The closure would be implemented at the end of the prevailing
information & consultation procedures in both countries.(end of
message)
About Agfa-GevaertThe Agfa-Gevaert Group is a
leading company in imaging technology and IT solutions with over
150 years of experience. The Group holds four divisions: Radiology
Solutions, HealthCare IT, Digital Print & Chemicals and Offset
Solutions. They develop, manufacture and market analogue and
digital systems for the healthcare sector, for specific industrial
applications and for the printing industry.
The Agfa-Gevaert Group’s headquarters and parent company are
located in Mortsel, Belgium. The Group’s largest production and
research centers are located in Belgium, the United States, Canada,
Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Austria, China and Brazil. The
Group is commercially active worldwide through wholly owned sales
organizations in more than 40 countries. In countries where it does
not have its own sales organization, the market is served by a
network of agents and representatives. In 2019, the Group realized
a turnover of 2,239 million Euro.
ContactViviane
Dictus
Director Corporate
Communication
T +32 3 444 7124E viviane.dictus@agfa.com
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