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300 jobs go at Crane Fruehauf
Page 19
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1 Crane Fruehauf is to lay off early one-third of its workrye in response to the slump m the trailer market and the loomy forecast for the UK conomy.
The company will cut 300 mbs from its factories in North Valsham and Dereham, Nor1k, which together manufacare the entire Crane Fruehauf ange. A third of the redundanies will be accounted for by ime termination of short-term ontracts, which the company 3ok on to deal with a bulging rder book a year ago. Corporate and public affairs manager Graham Thomson ays the company is not hope
of finding further major conracts this year. It has made le job cuts as part of "an rganisational review", which rill include investment in the lorfolk factories to increase manufacturing efficiency.
The Crane Fruehauf redunancies are further evidence of rie stagnancy of the trailer market, which junior Transport linister Robert Atkins hopes will perk up as a result of his recent announcement that 16.5m articulated vehicles will be allowed on Britain's roads.
Thomson, however, does not see the change in rules giving a significant boost to trailer manufacturers.
"It's only going to touch part of the market anyway," he says. "It won't affect people who weigh out before they bulk out, and although I think it will be better, I don't see it having a major effect."