After 70 years in business, a Northern Tasmanian manufacturing facility will close its doors next month leaving 28 workers unemployed.
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Elster Metering informed its employees on Monday about the closure with the business expected to finish up its operations by November 17.
The company has operated in Launceston since 1946 but was taken over by multinational corporation Honeywell in January this year.
“Honeywell has reviewed the activities of the Launceston, Tasmania foundry and has taken the difficult decision to close the facility,” Elster Metering managing director Robert Campbell said.
“We are committed to supporting the impacted employees throughout this process.”
The closure comes less than a year after 100 workers lost their jobs when Bradken, a steel factory which was located next door to Elster Metering, announced it would be moving its operations to Queensland.
“It’s bitterly disappointing for workers, especially after what happened with Bradken,” Australian Manufacturing Workers Union state secretary John Short said.
“Talking to the workers [however] it wasn't a complete surprise for them, they've probably been able to see the writing on the wall since Honeywell bought them out.”
Mr Short said it was a major concern for the industry.
“These are, and have been in the past, relatively good jobs, relatively stable jobs and we're losing these jobs and there’s not similar positions to replace them … the job market is very slack at the moment,” he said.