A Sandwell steel company is expected to make around 40 workers redundant as it struggles through the recession.

Metsec, in Broadwell Road, Oldbury, cut 50 jobs at Christmas, but boss Erle Andrews said today further job losses were unavoidable.

He said they are looking at losing 20 office staff and 20 factory workers from the 360-strong workforce across their four factories.

A worker, who did not want to be named, said: “We’ve been on short time since Christmas, working just three or four days a week, and we thought that might be enough, but now they’ve made this announcement and we’re gutted.”

The company, which manufacturers cold rolled steel products, including building frames, has seen its orders affected by the severe downturn in the housing market and construction industry.

Chief executive Mr Andrews said: “It is deeply regrettable that we actually have to make these redundancies. It is important now to make sure the process is as reasonable and fair as we can.”

Bilston company Arundel Fabs Ltd, based in the Saturn Centre, Spring Road, Ettingshall, which carries out sub contracted work for Metsec making steel lattice beams, is also looking to make around 13 redundancies, bosses said today.