Sevalco’s Bristol Carbon Black Plant to Close

Columbian Chemicals is to close its Sevalco carbon black facility in Avonmouth, Bristol, with the loss of some 88 jobs anticipated. The company says that the demand for carbon black has reduced significantly in recent months, and the decision to close the factory came only a day after it was announced that manufacturing activity in the UK had shrunk at a record pace during the last month.

Employees at the factory, which has been in operation since 1951, will be given a formal 30-day consultation period about the plans to axe their jobs, the company said in a statement. A company spokesman added that no decision has been made public on the future use of the 20-acre factory site.