Polestar is making 56 staff redundant at East Kilbride as it removes two 17-year-old KBA S60 Compacta presses.


East Kilbride managing director David Donaldson said the low press outputs of the KBAs made them un-competitive, a position that had been "exacerbated by the effects of the weak euro", which had "de-pres-sed" income at the plant.


The plant is part of Polestars Magazines and Catalogues division, which is headed by David Holland.


Polestar has entered a 30-day consultation period with the GPMU over the job losses. Thirty-five of the redundancies will be in the press hall and 21 will come from other areas, including support staff.


Viking is one of East Kilbrides main customers and Donaldson said it would remain so.


The groups Hungarian plant has been doing work for Viking, but Polestar said this was a result of Vikings own expansion, rather than a transfer of production.


"The issue at East Kil-bride is about reducing the unit cost of manufacturing," said Donaldson.


Polestar has no plans to relocate either of the presses or sell them on at the moment. It plans to invest in the East Kilbride bindery but has not yet confirmed details.


"Old presses going out is good news we just need to see some more of it," said another web printer.


The group said the removal of the presses was not the first example of its efficiency programme kicking in.


"Polestars programme is about more than retiring old presses," said Donaldson.


Polestar hopes to complete the changes at East Kilbride by the end of July, leaving it with a reduced staff of over 170.


The GPMU Scottish branch was unavailable for comment.


Story by Gordon Carson