Clearlab closes factory with loss of 100 jobs

Contact lens company Clearlab has announced plans to move its manufacturing facilities to Singapore and close its Estover operation near Plymouth with an estimated loss of more than 100 jobs.

Consolidation of the company's R&D, technical and support staff functions into its Singapore base is also proposed, following an extensive three-month review of Clearlab's operations.

Staff at the firm, which was originally called VisionTec and moved from Guildford in 2003, were told of the closure and risk of redundancy last week. One worker told local newspaper The Herald: 'The announcement came as a complete shock. No one really believed it was on the cards, although there was talk of top-level discussions.'