Foundry workers may go

More than 60 workers at a historic Black Country foundry are set to lose their jobs by the end of the month.

Bosses at Ductile Wesson at Victoria Steel Works in Moxley announced in February it would shut by the end of the year – shedding all 150 jobs. Production is now winding down at the 200-year-old manufacturing site with its hot rolling side of the business all but finished.

A total of 63 employees are expected to be let go by the end of April as part of the first round of job losses.

The company buys and rolls steel to supply to industries including automotive, hydraulic and engineering.

But it has been hit hard by the credit crunch and a downturn in work.

Its work force is being axed in stages to allow final orders to be met at the 13 acre foundry, but closure is expected before the end of 2009.