MOST of the manufacturing at a Bridport factory is being transferred to Germany, it has been confirmed this week.

There were fears that Curtiss-Wright, formerly Solent and Pratt, might close, putting 30 skilled people out of work.

But speaking from Charlottesville, North Carolina, the American senior director of investor relations Jim Ryan said there would be staff still continuing some operations on the Gore Cross site in Bridport.

He declined to say how many would remain.

Mr Ryan said: “It was back in May we were transitioning some of the manufacturing to a facility that we have in Germany.

“We haven’t said anything publicly about it at this point. It is not our policy to comment specifically on any employee matters but obviously in light of some of the global business climate and challenges there obviously we have to look at the overall health of Curtiss-Wright.

“The general manager of the plant has talked to the staff but we haven’t said anything externally about the matter.

“I am limited in what I can say.

“I can’t talk to the number of people because I don’t have that specific information. We did talk about shifting at least the majority of the manufacturing to a plant in Germany.”

Mr Ryan said the decision was taken because there was an existing manufacturing facility in Germany.

“It is just about realignment of some of our operations.”

“Our legal team is very close to the chest with a lot of these types of things they don’t like us commenting specific on employee matters.

“I can say there was definitely a shift in the manufacturing.”

After further consultation with the Bridport factory Mr Ryan confirmed there would still be some staff manufacturing on the site, but still without specific numbers.

“I would say there will be less staff than before but there is still going to be producing from that facility.”

Mr Ryan said producing valves for the oil and gas industry - which is what Solent and Pratt did - was only a small proportion - less than five per cent - of the total work of the company.

He added: “The company overall does a lot of work in aerospace and defence, nuclear power a lot of industrial business.”

A source, who wanted to remain anonymous, said 30 skilled people were out of work.

He said: “Not good news for a town already suffering with a very few opportunities for younger people. The company has been providing employment in the town for many years.”

Curtiss-Wright is the parent company and has its headquarters in north Carolina. It has manufacturing bases in Christchurch, China, Germany, India, Taiwan, Canada, Korea, Netherlands and Singapore.

In 1929, Curtiss-Wright was formed by the merger of companies founded by Glenn Curtiss, the father of naval aviation, and the Wright brothers, renowned for history’s first flight.

The first decade of the 21st century saw the transformation of Curtiss-Wright from a company with less than $300 million in revenues to one exceeding $2 billion.

It achieved by buying nearly 60 businesses - one of which was Solent and Pratt bought in 2001.