Sad news that the last UK last major TV manufacturer in the UK is set to shut down its base in Lowestoft after failing to arrest a sharp fall in demand for its products.

Sanyo UK is proposing to shutdown its School Road factory by the end of next month with the loss of 60 jobs, Sanyo announced on the 12th of January.

At its height of production, Sanyo produced some 500,000 televisions a year, but the current economic crisis has dealt a fatal blow to the company’s fortunes.

The news was greeted with dismay yesterday, with a union leader describing it as a “sad day” for Lowestoft, and the area’s MP announcing he would be meeting with Sanyo’s boss today to see if there were any last-ditch hopes of saving the factory.

Sanyo announced drastic measures to revive its flagging fortunes at the end 2006, moving away from making domestic television sets to the production of large-screen public information monitors.

However, demand has dropped during the past 18 months and the company said it had been forced to propose the closure of its Lowestoft factory as a last resort.
A statement from Sanyo Industries UK vice-president Noel Salmon said:

“The current economic situation and price competitiveness have resulted in insufficient orders for the company to remain viable, despite major investment on both product and manufacturing technology.”

Japanese-owned Sanyo brought the former Pye factory from Philips and had enjoyed periods of strong growth in a competitive market.

Mark Robinson, regional officer for the Unite union, said:

“It is a sad day for Lowestoft. Sanyo has a long and proud history of making televisions on that site.”

The Local MP Bob Blizzard said:

“It is very, very disappointing and bad news for the staff affected. It seems that the company is a victim of the credit crunch.”

A sad day for the country that invented the TV in the 1930’s. Sanyo is also in talks with Panasonic about Panasonic taking Sanyo over which would lead to the creation of Japan’s biggest electronics maker.