Up to 200 staff are facing an uncertain future, as Newprinters has confirmed it plans to close its Knowsley print plant “in the coming months.”
The newspaper and distribution company, owned by News UK, said the work would be transferred to its other sites in Eurocentral (Glasgow) and Broxbourne (Hertfordshire).
“Newsprinters is committed to keeping printed newspapers in the hands of our readers, and delivering for our clients. The proposal to close our Knowsley facility was a difficult decision to reach. However, this proposal is aimed at strengthening our ability to provide long term sustainability to the print and distribution services we provide to clients across the industry,” said Newsprinters Managing Director Darren Barker.
The company stated that the decision had been taken after an “extensive review.”
“I want to recognise and thank all Newsprinters colleagues and Business Partners in Knowsley for their valuable contribution over many years and their continued cooperation and understanding. We are committed to offering every possible support as we undertake the proper staff consultation process,” continued Barker.
“News UK remains committed to print and will continue to invest in both the quality journalism our readers want and our print production and distribution capability serving both in-house and third party clients.”
Around 200 staff are understood to work at the site and the proposal is subject to consultation with the impacted staff. Newsprinters said that it would now be engaging employees and their union.
The 31 acre Knowsley site has 5 XXL Manroland colorman coldset presses, which have the capacity to print 430k full colour copies every hour.
On Newsprinters’ website, it says that “Knowsley is proud to be the printer to many of the UK’s best known Newspapers.”
