1 Jul 2012

Auckland manufacturer closes, 70 jobs to go

5:29 am on 1 July 2012

The Engineering, Printing & Manufacturing Union says more than 70 people are being made redundant by a factory closure in South Auckland.

The union says Flotech, a high-end manufacturing firm that makes machinery for the oil and gas industry, has decided to cease production in New Zealand.

EPMU assistant director of organising Strachan Crang says many of the company's tradespeople may have to consider moving to Australia to find new, well-paid jobs.

"There's not many jobs out there for these guys, and as everyone knows Australia really has a big skill shortage and so a lot of our members are looking there and they'll consider moving over."

Flotech is the third New Zealand manufacturer to announce redundancies in as many weeks, following job cuts by Norman Ellison Carpets in Onehunga and Summit Wool Spinners in Oamaru.

Mr Crang says the union is not yet sure exactly when the Flotech factory will close.