A grim day has dawned on Grimsby as Solenis, the Moody Lane-based manufacturing titan, officially shuts its doors, leaving 26 workers facing redundancy. The Pyewipe industrial estate facility, known for its production of polymers for the mining and mineral processing industries, has been in the spotlight since its acquisition from BASF last November. Following an in-depth review of product sourcing, the company decided to close the factory and shift production to a third-party supplier in China.
The workers were made aware of the looming cessation, and a thorough consultation process was conducted regarding their redundancy. The factory’s decommissioning is expected to span the next four to six months. This move comes as Solenis seeks to optimise costs, service and quality for its mining application customers. The company assures an existing, robust relationship with the Chinese supplier.
The affected employees and trade union representatives were informed about the potential closure on 14 November 2024, followed by a consultation process. As the dust settles on the factory today, 31 March 2025, Grimsby loses a significant employer and the community braces for impact.
