Window and door maker Fenestra to axe up to 200 jobs in Kuopio

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Fenestra, a company producing doors and windows and belonging to the Paloheimo Group, announced on Wednesday that it would be drastically cutting back on jobs at its Kuopio factory.
      The unit currently employs around 250 workers, but in the space of two years, 190 jobs are to go from Kuopio.
      The staff reductions are part of a streamlining programme under which Fenestra will transfer its production to another site. Around EUR 10 million is being invested in new equipment.
     
At the same time, Fenestra is being merged with Viitapuu, which joined the group last year. The programme calls for the moving of the manufacture of balcony or terrace doors from Kuopio to plants at Viitasaari and Alavus. Production of windows will in turn be arranged in such a way that Kuopio deals with frames, and the actual assembly takes place in Forssa.
      It is anticipated that the changes will bring an additional 50 jobs in Alavus, Forssa, and Viitasaari.
      Staff and union representatives in Kuopio were shocked at the news, and at the impact it will have on employment locally, where there is already no shortage of people looking for work.
      The headquarters of the family-owned Paloheimo Group are in Riihimäki. The company employs approximately 1,100, and had net sales in 2005 in the region of EUR 155 million.


Links:
  Paloheimo press release concerning merger

Helsingin Sanomat