Toshiba latest AV major to be hit by economic slow-down; Plymouth TV factory to close

Toshiba is to close its long-standing Plymouth TV factory. The Ernesettle plant peaked during the production of Dolby Surround CRT TVs in the eighties and more recently has been used to assemble LCD screens for the UK and European market. Production will now shift to Toshiba’s Polish plant in Kobierzyce. The company says the move was prompted by a drive ‘to increase economies of scale, efficiency and flexibility in the fiercely-competitive global LCD TV market.’ Around 270 jobs will be lost.

Andy Bass, MD of Toshiba Information Systems, says: ‘We have 28 years of history with Plymouth, and are indebted both to the people who have worked with us over those years, and to the wider local community. We deeply regret the loss of jobs.’