York’s Basildon factory to be closed down in restructuring

York International’s air-conditioning factory at Basildon is to be closed as part of a major strategic restructuring across York Europe, Middle-East and Africa. The news closely following the announcement by Johnson Controls that it is to Acquire York International for about $3.2 billion. Production at Basildon will be phased out over a 12-month period, and the factory will be completely closed by the end of 2006. The manufacture of chillers will be consolidated into other existing York facilities. Other staff based at Basildon will be moved to new offices in the area by the end of 2006. York International moved manufacturing to Basildon in 1961. The closure of the plant affects about 250 of the current 450 employees there. Efforts will be made to redeploy where possible, both within York’s UK operations and outside the company. Markus Gruen, vice president of the company’s air-conditioning and unitary-products business in Europe, says, ‘We recognise that these changes will be difficult for all those directly affected, especially after having been at this location for almost 45 years. However, the intensity of competition in today’s UK and European HVAC market demands that we continually make our business more efficient in order to deliver the quality, value and service which customers expect of one of the world’s leading HVAC&R companies.’ York’s UK Navy operations are not affected by this decision.

Related links:

• www.york.com