Fakenham factory job cuts as machinery demand declines

Ploeger UK in Fakenham has confirmed that seven staff members are facing redundancy.

The company on Holt Road manufactures pea and bean harvesters which are mainly exported to the USA and eastern Europe. 

Claire Dunnett, finance manager, said: "Unfortunately, we are currently consulting with employees regarding some redundancies due to a decline in machine orders.  

Ploeger pea harvesters at Ploeger UK on Holt Road in Fakenham. (Image: Danielle Booden) READ MORE: 'Fakenham's best-kept secret' - inside town's huge harvester factory

"The agricultural market is cyclical and indications are for lower demand in the next build year."

She also said this impact is being seen with other businesses in the same sector.

"It's not a situation you'd want to be in when you work with these people every day," Ms Dunnett said.

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The factory employs 55 staff and has been manufacturing in Fakenham for more than 50 years.

In 2022 it was seeing year-on-year growth of almost 10pc, bringing annual turnover to £16m.

But Julian Smith, manufacturing manager, said that more recently there has been "a general downturn in the agricultural machinery market".

He said this was due to the price of commodities for farmers. 

Staff working on Ploeger pea harvesters at Ploeger UK on Holt Road in Fakenham. (Image: Danielle Booden)

Regarding the redundancies, Mr Smith said: "We're very sad to lose any of our employees. We've all worked together for several years.

"To have to go through this process is not something we take lightly but we have to protect the business going forward," he added.

The company was originally known as FMC Technologies, then PMC Harvesters after it was bought by Dutch firm Ploeger in 2002.

Re-branded as Ploeger UK in 2020, the company builds harvesters for peas and beans and detasselers for corn.