Global Graphics is transferring the bulk of its UK operations to its Halifax site, which will result in a number of job cuts at its Cheltenham and Thetford operations.

The firm is also looking at staff cuts at its flexo factory in France. The combined job losses in the UK and France will be about 80 by the end of the year.

It said it had shed 72 staff this year in its second-quarter results and was looking to further cut staff (PrintWeek, 3 August).

It makes sense for there to be one main location for UK production and our Halifax facility has seen considerable investment in recent years, said Global Graphics Hardware chief executive Gary Jones.

We are centralising most of our R&D and all our UK administration in Halifax.

Manufacture of its range of plate processors, which is currently split across Thetford and Halifax, will be shifted to Halifax, with Thetford remaining as a sales and service centre.

Production of the Cirrus 2 platesetter will also move to Halifax, while scanners have already moved there. Cheltenham will become a sales, service and R&D site.

Shares had fallen to an all-time low of 2.60 (E4.3), below June 1998s launch price, as PrintWeek went to press.

The firm will reveal details of new products at Print 01.

Story by Barney Cox