Job losses hit 324 as technology firm shuts in Havant

Hard drive manufacturer Seagate said Xyratex is shutting in Havant due to a ‘weak macroeconomic environment’ and ‘accelerating usage shifts of technologies’.

A spokeswoman for Seagate said this meant 324 employees based at Xyratex’s headquarters in Langstone Technology Park, in Havant, would be affected.

She said the decision was not easy but the firm, which makes hard drives for computers, needed a more efficient manufacturing footprint.

The site will be shut by June next year, the company confirmed.

In a statement the spokeswoman said: ‘Earlier this week, Seagate filed a Form 8-K describing its commitment to the next phase of the global footprint consolidation and restructuring plan as part of the company’s previously announced efforts to reduce its cost structure.

‘Seagate is responding to HDD demand levels that reflect a weak macroeconomic environment and accelerating usage shifts of technologies and architectures.

‘Given the current conditions, Seagate’s path forward requires a more efficient manufacturing footprint and highly optimized product portfolio.

‘To that end, Seagate has made the difficult decision to ramp down several company facilities, including the development centre in Havant, UK. ‘Seagate is proposing to cease operations of these facilities by calendar Q2 2017.

‘It’s not easy to make decisions that affect people’s lives in this way and we regret that approximately 324 employees will be affected by this action.’

Xyratex was formed through a management buyout when multinational technology giant IBM withdrew from its site in Havant – now Langstone Technology Park – in the 1990s.

The firm was bought by Seagate for £228.4m in January 2014.