Following the technology change from the use of prepregs to infusion technology for the production of wind blades in the global wind energy industry over the past 10 years, Gurit says it has faced non-utilisation in China and Canada and underutilisation of its prepreg production capacity in Europe in recent years.
In Europe, the decline of the wind energy prepreg market, combined with the overall demand for marine, industrial and automotive prepreg has now reached a level which suggests consolidation into one better utilised site.
The manufacturing of Formulated Products and the UK-based automotive components Technology Centre will remain unaffected from the aforementioned changes.
Gurit will continue to maintain the technology activity for its prepreg and formulated business in the UK and continue to invest in its Tech Centre in order to retain its leading technology position, know-how, customer proximity and technical support capability.
Gurit estimates that the restructuring and transfer cost will result in one-off costs of approximately CHF 3.9 million of which CHF 3.1 million will be effective in the 2017 fiscal year and the remainder in 2018.
