PDL Electronics has outlined plans for the staged closure of its Napier plant, with about 70 jobs to be lost when the factory finally closes its doors next March.
The first stage will be the disbanding of PDL's 16-person Electronics Research and Development Team in June-July, and the reduction of some
manufacturing capacity, which will cost another 15 jobs.
PDL is owned by France-based Schneider Electric Ltd and Japanese conglomerate Toshiba Corp, and it is planned five applications engineers will be transferred to Schneider Electric New Zealand.
Manufacturing will be further reduced between September and December, with the loss of about 30 jobs. Manufacturing of PDL Electronics' variable-speed drives will cease by the end of the year. The final stage, up to March 2007, will be to close the business entirely, with the loss of another nine jobs.
Schneider Electric will retain 10 people at the Napier site working on international applications engineering, parts and service support.
It's hoped 20 staff will be kept within the Schneider Group.
