Hi-tech advances lead to lay-offs at Wesley Jessen

The company, which won the Queens Award for Export in April, has blamed the lay-offs on improved technology. The redundancies, which will take place over the next three to four months, have come at a time when the company's order book is reportedly bulging, and the company itself said this week that sales were growing at the site where the lay-offs will take place. Marketing manager Ruth Dwyer said the redundancies at the Hedge End manufacturing plant were due to 'improved technology and enhanced manufacturing processes'. It was hoped the job losses would be accommodated through voluntary redundancies and a reduction in temporary staff, she said. 'Sales from the Hedge End site continue to grow, especially as it manufactures Precision UV (PUV) monthly-disposable lenses for the global market. 'PUV is the best selling high-water disposable lens in the UK.'