Up to 46 jobs could be lost at one of Weymouth’s biggest employers by the end of next year.

Yesterday, ASM Assembly Systems which is based on the Granby Industrial Estate, announced it will be leaving the solar and emulsion screens industry.

As a result, its UK workforce which is headquartered in Weymouth, could be reduced by 8.5 per cent.

A spokesman for ASM said: “We have announced we are coming out of the solar and emulsion screens industry. This means we are ceasing production in those areas. We need to work with customers over the next 15 months, that’s why reductions in staff could go on until December next year.

“Due to a change in product portfolio, up to 46 permanent roles could be impacted by the end of 2019, the equivalent of 8.5 per cent of our UK workforce.

“During this time, we will aim to re-deploy as many people into other roles in the organisation both in the UK and elsewhere.

“In certain areas we are considering applications for voluntary redundancy. Our employees are as always of the highest priority to ASM and we are looking to retain them wherever possible.”

There are more than 530 people employed by the manufacturer in Weymouth.

According to the ASM spokesman, the company is consulting with its staff forum, following yesterday’s announcement.

The spokesman explained: “We don’t recognise any unions on site. We have a staff forum rather than a union and representatives are made up of peers, who we’re consulting with.”

The spokesman added that the company won’t know the total number of redundancies until the end of 2019.

Mickey Jones, CEO of DJ Property, which leases property to ASM, said: “Over the last few decades the growth at ASM has been nothing short of spectacular.

“They have increased their workforce and turnover.

“I wouldn’t look too much into this. This is what the company says it is, for businesses to be successful they need to do this from time to time.

“ASM are very good at looking after their staff and are one of the best employers in Weymouth. They have a partnership with Zone Fitness and have provided subsidised gym membership to their staff. So they put their money where their mouth is. I know a lot of employees from there who have been there for a long time and have a fantastic standard of living here in Weymouth.

“They are global leaders in what they do and we need businesses of that calibre in Weymouth. The future is bright for ASM.”