Philips has announced job cuts at its Hamilton factory following a decision to move part of the site's production abroad.
Hamilton currently manufactures outdoor luminaires (conventional and LED), and SOX low pressure sodium lamps – the low sodium lamps will continue to be produced at the site, as will a small number of SOX luminaires.
Nine product families in the outdoor luminaires division will be discontinued altogether and the manufacture of LED models will be moved to other factories in Europe, though which ones has yet to be confirmed.
Philips' factory in Hamilton, Lanarkshire
A spokesman for Philips said: "In order to remain agile and competitive in an economic environment that continues to be challenging, Philips is improving operational efficiencies across the globe. As a result we have informed the workforce at our Hamilton facility that we are proposing to phase out the production of luminaires at the facility during the first half of 2014, with a number of product lines being transferred to other sites.
"Reductions in workforce are always difficult and Philips is committed to providing affected employees with as much help, information and support as possible."
The job cuts will hit production, management and support staff on the luminaires side of the business; those working in the lamps part of the business will not be affected.
The company is now in consultation with employee representatives, after which a final decision will be taken.
