Parker plans to end manufacturing in Cannock

Parker Hannifin is planning to end pneumatics manufacturing at its plant in Cannock, Staffordshire. The company is consulting with its employees and their representatives over its plans to phase out manufacturing at the site, which is also the European headquarters of Parker`s pneumatics division. The site currently employs 189 people, of whom 138 could lose their jobs.

Parker says that the move is necessary to improve the profitability of the pneumatics division and to maintain its long-term competitive position in market that is "characterised by aggressive competitors offering products at ever lowering prices".

Parker wants to phase out manufacturing in Cannock over the coming year, and replace the existing facility with a divisional headquarters and technical design centre, located in the same area. The products currently manufactured at the site will be transferred to other Parker factories.

The Cannock site was originally the Schrader Bellows plant. When Parker bought Compare Maxam (also known as Siebe Pneumatics, and later as Invensys Pneumatics), its operations were transferred to Cannock. And in 2004, when Parker acquired Mead Fluid Dynamics, this too was transferred to Cannock.