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Final blow for glass factory
More than 1,000 years of history came to an end today with the closure of Sunderland's last commercial glassmaker.
Arc Glass, which produces Pyrex cookware, announced in January that it was to close its Millfield works with the loss of 240 jobs. The last consignment of glass came off the line at 9am today.
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It brings to an end a tradition of commercial glass making on Wearside that has lasted since the Seventh Century AD, when Sunderland's patron saint Benedict Biscop brought Gallic craftsmen from France to create stained-glass windows for the monastery he was building at Monkwearmouth.
Arc has blamed the spiralling cost of energy and raw materials, coupled with a lack of orders, for the decision to close the Millfield factory.
Production of its cookware range – including Pyrex – will be transferred to two of its French factories.
Team leader John Wilson, 59, has been at the plant for the best part of four decades and was chosen to oversee the last consignment this morning.
He said: "It's sad that 152 years of glass making has come to an end.
"I've worked on this site for 38 years, as have many other employees and their families.
"Producing the last piece of glass, from the tens of millions that have been produced is an honour but also a sad end to an era of glass production in Sunderland."
Despite losing 50 per cent of its workforce, the plant has continued in full production and manger Karl Terry today paid tribute to those workers who had made it possible.
He said: "I would like to thank all employees for their support since the closure announcement was made on January 17."
"This site has a proud history which, despite the difficulty of the situation, has seen our performance maintained, and in some areas surpassed over the last eight months."
Arc has been working with recruitment specialist Right Management to find alternative work for staff since the announcement.
The firm made 135,000 available for training and Job Centre Plus and Business Link have added a further 100,000 to meet demand. More than 150 employees have taken the opportunity of training funding to enhance their skills and employability prospects and 35 employees are retraining into new careers as a result.
More than half the staff have moved on, finding new jobs, setting up their own business, going into long-term training for a new career or retiring.
Mr Terry added:"Employees have performed magnificently throughout this period and I want to stress that for those that have not yet found jobs, the Right Management employee support and job search programmes remain available to them from the plant during October, November and December – and we urge them to use these facilities."
Today marks the end of production but around half the workforce will remain on site throughout the autumn to close down the plant.
The firm aims to have 80 per cent of staff resettled into new jobs or other options by the end of December.
The factory's days have been numbered since news broke last October that the neighbouring Corning plant was to close.
The two factories were originally part of Sunderland Glass Works and were split in 1994 when Corning sold the domestic glassware side of the business to Newell Rubbermaid, which sold it on to Arc in October 2005.
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Weather for Sunderland
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: West
