REHAU has announced that 104 jobs are at risk at its manufacturing facility on Anglesey as the site faces closure.

Yesterday, the group announced that proposals could lead to the plant in Amlwch being shut down.

A spokesperson explained: "For some time, we have been making considerable efforts to secure the future of the facility, including a change in shift patterns to improve productivity and investment in new machinery.

"However, the market for PVC Edgeband, the facility’s primary manufacturing focus, has gone into significant decline due to a switch to polypropylene that has contributed to a more than 70% reduction in demand for REHAU products.

"With no sign of demand recovering, and further investment in Amlwch or utilisation of the site for alternative products impossible due to space restrictions, we have taken the difficult decision to propose the closure of the site.

"We understand that this proposal will have significant impact on our workforce and the local community, but we firmly believe that they are necessary to make the company stronger and to place it in the best position to face future challenges and opportunities."

If the proposal is actioned, production of PVC Edgeband will be transferred to the group’s other European facilities that have available production capacity.

Rhun ap Iorwerth AM called the news "devastating".

"The news regarding the proposed closure of the REHAU facility in Amlwch is another devastating blow, but again particularly the north of the island which has already been severely affected by the news of the Wylfa Newydd project’s suspension last week," he said.

“My thoughts are with the 104 employees facing job losses and the wider community, where these jobs are so vital – less than a week after the Wylfa Newydd announcement, I can’t express just how much of a blow this is to the area.

“I will be seeking an urgent meeting with representatives at the REHAU facility in Amlwch, with the hope of visiting there tomorrow, and I will also be contacting Welsh Government at once to once again make the case for significant investment in the island’s economy. We need urgent action now.”