ONE hundred and 80 jobs are at risk in Stonehouse after proposals to close a factory.

SKF has announced plans to close its site in Oldends Lane.

The manufacturing company will now enter into a period of consultation with employee representatives.

Should the proposal be confirmed, manufacturing at the site in Stonehouse will cease by December 31, 2021, with production moved to SKF’s aerospace manufacturing sites in Italy and France.

Bernd Stephan, president (automotive and aerospace) said: “This consolidation is necessary in order to secure a continued competitive offering for the aerospace industry, as it shifts away from legacy engines and aircraft to more modern ones.

"We will be able to make better use of more modern machines and manufacturing technologies at our sites in other parts of Europe.”