Redundancies likely as two Bilston firms plan move to Staffordshire
Two Bilston-based businesses are set to move to Staffordshire with the majority of their 60-strong staff being made redundant.
Stainless Threaded Fasteners and Icon Fasteners are divisions of Hexstone, the UK’s leading wholesaler of fasteners, fixings and associated products.
Hexstone yesterday announced a consultation on the future of its site at Beldray Park, Mount Pleasant, where both businesses are based.
Stainless Threaded Fasteners operates from a 50,000 sq ft site established at the business park in 1986.
A third Bilston business, The Righton Fasteners division which employs 11, is not affected by the consultation.
Hexstone is proposing the operations are consolidated at its Staffordshire site at Opal Way in Stone, also home of the Owlett-Jaton division.
If no viable alternatives are identified during a consultation, operations will be transferred to Stone.
Hexstone chief executive Ian Doherty said: "This has been a difficult decision made against the backdrop of a challenging market and prompted by the forthcoming expiry of the lease on the site.
"The team at Bilston have worked extremely hard to deliver high levels of service to our customers, but commercial pressures have led us to form the view that consolidation may be the best route forward for the company.
"The proposal is subject to the outcome of the current consultation, but whatever the outcome we will do everything to support our team through this difficult period.”
The consultation is expected to last until late February at which point a further announcement will be made.
Hexstone on Stone Business Park has been going for 72 years and employs 300 staff across its operation, including 180 at its main base.
Mr Doherty said 25 to 30 new roles will be created at Stone if the move goes ahead, with staff from the Bilston site given priority for those jobs.
