Washington-based printing firm Reed Print and Design has called in the receivers and is set to close its 15 million pound plant just two years after it opened, leaving almost 150 workers unemployed. The firm was established as a family business in the North East in 1968 and has now appointed PricewaterhouseCooper as administrators after a 90-day consultation with employees.

It is unsure how many of the 148 staff employed at the Birtley Road factory will lose their jobs as the firm said it will be looking to relocate elsewhere in the region to focus on its core business. Sunderland Council and regional development agency One NorthEast will help out workers affected by the closure plan. The firm’s problems where reported in May and the bosses revealed that the business could not be sustained at the same operating level due to losses and a decline in core business.

Reed Print made a pre-tax loss of 1.56 million pounds in 2006. The business moved into a newly-built site in December 2005 after a fire at its former premises. The 120,000 square foot plant had high specification equipment to print and manufacture 120 million pieces of work a year, including customized packaging and direct mail.

Tags: print industry

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