Photo by RPC RPC's Bramlage business makes rigid packaging for cosmetics and other markets

RPC’s rigid packaging site in Pulheim, Germany is set to shut after worker representatives failed to persuade the company to halt its closure plan. The facility employs approximately 250 people.

“The decision stands, the management has no interest to reconsider it,” said Matthias Jacob, deputy district head of the Cologne-Bonn section of the IG BCE mining, chemicals and energy union, in a 23 August report on the website of Cologne newspaper K?lnische Rundschau.

“We tried to persuade the management to revise the decision and to keep the Pulheim-Brauweiler location. But this is not wanted,” said Jacob.

The union has started talks with the management about a social plan for the affected workers. “Whether employees move to another location, is still unclear,” said Jacob.

A spokesperson for UK-based RPC confirmed the report without adding any further details.

The Pulheim facility is part of the RPC Bramlage-Wiko division of injection moulding operations. It was earmarked for closure as part of RPC’s Fitter for the Future rationalisation programme which started in 2014.

Other RPC facilities that have been affected by the rationalisation include Vel’ky Meder in Slovakia, San Roque in Spain, Tenhult in Sweden, and Troyes in France.

Correction: RPC has not closed its plant in Theessen, Germany, as PNE wrongly reported previously. PNE apologises for this mistake.