ETRIA, Ricoh’s European toner manufacturing joint venture, has confirmed that part of its office toner production will move from its UK facility in Telford to its site in France, following reports and concerns about potential job losses. In an official statement, Ricoh said the change is a planned, phased transition that will begin in May and take around 14 months, stressing that customer service and supply will not be affected. However, the company did not disclose how much production will be transferred, how many roles may be impacted, or the strategic reasons behind the decision. This lack of detail has led critics to describe the response as vague, as it acknowledges the shift while avoiding discussion of its broader economic and employment implications for the UK site.
