Concerns Over Sharp Factory Future

Concerns have been raised about the future of the Sharp factory in Wrexham.

Wrexham.com have been told “On Friday at 6am all agency staff were told leave, with rumours that the new factory is closing with just one line running”.

Another got in touch to tell us that Friday’s night shift had been sent home.

Yesterday we attempted to follow up directly with Sharp, however we were told there was no one there for comment.

We are told there is an onsite office for local employment agency GAP, and one employee said “We have been told that the factory is closing. Staff in the Sharp GAP office are also out of work, so they say.”

“There were only about 20 people in the factory (usually about 200) both Sharp and GAP employees. They were packing stuff up”.

Sharp Corporation saw its share price in Tokyo slide nearly 12% on Friday after ratings agency Standard & Poor’s downgraded the company’s debt to ‘junk’ status.

Wrexham’s factory opened in 1984 and started with the production of video recorders and microwave ovens. Since 2004 it has been manufacturing solar modules, replacing the video recorder production. Of all Sharp’s solar module manufacturing plants around the world, Wrexham is one of the most technically advanced. Today it assembles highly advanced monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar modules for use in both residential and commercial installations.

In November we reported about concerns about the future of the factory, however had brighter news in June of this year with 3000 solar panels being installed with Sharp providing specialist skills. Also in June Sharp announced they were to make Wrexham a ‘Solar Headquarters’, and last month the council announced that social housing in town were starting to get solar panels – again with help from Sharp.

We have attempted again to get direct information from Sharp, and will keep trying.

If you have been affected or have further information please email [email protected] .