Alloys firm jobs at risk

Workers at metal alloys company Mazak Ltd were being called to a crunch meeting this afternoon where they were due to hear their fate.

Accountants from Smith & Williamson were expected at the Willenhall Lane firm to be appointed as administrators. Known locally as The Spelter, the company produces alloys for the car parts industry but has been hit hard by the economic slump. There has been a factory on the site since 1902, when it was known as The Delaville Spelter Works.

Mazak is recognised as the UK's largest consumer of zinc, producing a wide range of zinc-based alloys for diecasting and galvanising, and zinc-based pigments for the paint and pharmaceuticals industries.

It has a base in Slovakia, and several customers in the UK, Western Europe and the Far East. In 2003 the company expanded its then £35million-a-year business after a £5.25million deal to take over a neighbouring business. It took over the alloys and pigments divisions of Trident Alloys, which have a combined turnover of £10million, during better times for the industry.

One employee at the firm, who did not want to be named, today said the mood was sombre among fellow workers.

"It's very sad," she said. "We've been here for more than 100 years, and I think everyone in the area has someone in the family who has worked here at some stage in the past. It's obviously very worrying, because most companies around here are laying people off rather than taking people on, so we don't know where the next jobs are going to come from."

Speaking to the Express & Star last month, general manager Martin Ware blamed the downturn in demand in the car industry for the uncertain future of many manufacturing firms. He confirmed that the company was in trouble, saying "everything is on the table".

Today he was unavailable for comment.

Smith & Williamson spokesperson Kate Harrison said: "We are expecting to be formally appointed as administrators of Mazak Ltd and Mazak UK Ltd later today."