Colchester, Clacton: Manufacturing firm moves out of town

9:43am Thursday 8th May 2008

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Colchester is to lose more manufacturing jobs as a firm moves to Clacton.

Pakfin is taking a lease on the former Bards premises in Valleybridge Road, Clacton's largest factory site, in a £1.7 million investment.

The magazine finishing firm currently has two main bases in Commerce Way, Colchester, and at Earls Colne Business Park.

It has five other storage and warehouse facilities, including in Boxted, Hadleigh in Suffolk and Rowhedge.

About 100 jobs, close to 200 at peak times, will relocate to Clacton.

Pakfin, which hopes Colchester workers will stay on after the move, aims to work exclusively from the 118,000 sq ft Bards site by May 19.

The firm specialises in "partwork" collectables magazine series, for example building a model boat by collecting the parts or collecting figurines.

Director Frank Owen said the reason for moving was to consolidate all its operations under one roof for the first time.

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