Polestar To Stop Magazine Printing In Scarborough

Polestar is to close printing operations at Polestar Greaves in Scarborough (UK) to consolidate its gravure printing facilities in two, rather than three factories.

Production of titles currently printed at Greaves will transfer to Polestar Sheffield and Polestar Varnicoat, in Pershore.

Polestar said that consultation will begin with local union representatives and officials in Scarborough.

Magazines and newspaper supplements printed at Polestar Greaves include Hello, Woman's Weekly for IPC Media, Stella for The Telegraph, Take 5 and S Magazine for Express Newspapers and Life for The Independent.

The Polestar Greaves operation currently employs 380 people and the proposal will mean a staff reduction of 50 per cent, with the remaining employees remaining with the finishing department, which will continue to operate to meet customer requirements.

Polestar chief executive, Barry Hibbert, said: "We will take three older presses out of production and maximise the efficiency of our greenfield facility in Sheffield and the firepower we have at Varnicoat.

This action also recognises that there is too much print capacity in Europe and Polestar has been prepared to take a lead on this.

For the sake of the market I hope other printers will do the same.".

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