60 jobs set to go at Surecast Alloys (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Firm refusing to comment on move away

12:30pm Thursday 12th April 2012 in Chippenham

Chippenham manufacturing firm Surecast Alloys is said to be leaving its headquarters in Langley Park, with the loss of up to 60 jobs.

It is thought that owner Mark Beresford is moving part of the operation to Incanite Foundries in Birmingham and the computer numerical control department – the computerised milling process– moving to the Garden Trading Estate in Devizes.

Staff have been told the doors will close at the Chippenham headquarters next Friday, April 20, with employees left angry and frustrated at the lack of support they have received from company bosses.

Staff were given a letter saying there may be redundancies eight weeks ago, and a consultant visited the premises with application forms, although staff say nothing more has been done.

A spokesman from Incanite Foundries said: “Something is happening, but we only heard about it yesterday, so I can’t say anything more yet.”

Staff at Surecast say there is confusion and worry among employees at the company, many of whom have young families, and that communication has been extremely poor.

The company was previously based in Devizes, and was sold in 2006, when it moved to Chippenham.

Staff are angry that not enough time is being given for them to find other employment.

Some have been with the company since it moved to Wiltshire from Slough in 1980, and a source said: “[Some of the employees] know nothing else but foundry life.”

Many staff moved from Devizes to Chippenham when the company moved.

Surecast Alloys are a UK foundry producing and supplying sand and gravity die castings, as well as its own product range to all types of industries, including Westinghouse.

Jocelyn Hickling, who works for site owners Ashtenne, said they have received no such information from the company.

“It’s certainly not something that I am aware of,” she said.

“We have not had any notification. They are still on a lease and no one has come forward to say the company is moving away from Chippenham.

“They are a reasonably-sized company, and as far as I am aware they are staying put.”

But in February the company applied to Companies House to move its registered office from Chippenham to Old Mill Chartered Accountants at Challeymead Business Park in Melksham.

Despite repeated requests for a comment from the Gazette this week the company would not comment on the closure of the factory.

Mr Beresford was said to be on holiday.

Foundry manager Ian Cooper is understood to be in Birmingham at Inacinite Foundries.