No injuries have been reported from a fire that broke out April 29 at a compounding plant operated by Teknor Apex Co. in Oldbury, England.
Local media reports said that the plant's entire roof was on fire at one point and that smoke was visible from miles away. As many as 75 firefighters were at the scene, reports said. The fire broke out around 1:30 p.m. local time.
In an April 29 news release from Pawtucket, R.I.-based Teknor, officials said that all 31 employees at the site at the time have been accounted for. The fire was discovered in the warehouse area by an employee who quickly alerted those in the building and West Midlands Fire Service was called to the scene, they added.
“Our first priority was ensuring all our employees were safe,” Teknor president Bill Murray said. “At this time, the fire has been contained and there are no known injuries to first responders or the 31 employees who were on site. We thank the firefighters who fought this blaze and ensured the safety of everyone involved.”
No details as to the extent of the damage or on the cause of the fire were available, although there were reports of a collapsed wall. West Midlands Fire Service linked multiple photos and video of the damage on its Twitter page.
Teknor makes compounds based on nylon, thermoplastic elastomers and PET at the Oldbury plant, which is about 130 miles northwest of London.
In the release, officials said that the firm is in the process of setting up a temporary local business office and that a team will be on site to evaluate the impact of the fire. At this time they are unable to enter the building due to safety concerns. Teknor also is working with local authorities to investigate any environmental impact at the site and the surrounding area.
The company has been in communication with customers and suppliers, and has initiated its manufacturing backup plan to source materials from other Teknor plants around the world to ensure that customer orders are fulfilled.
Teknor ranks as one of North America's 30 largest compounders and concentrate makers. The firm operates 13 plants worldwide and has annual sales of more than $600 million.
