History
The Ferodo factory in Caernarfon; Friction Dynamex; was opened by Princess Margaret in 1962. By the late 1960s it employed up to 1,100 making braking components and friction pad. The site was then bought by American; Craig Smith in 1997 and renamed “Friction Dynamics”, operating with a workforce of 220 in that year. By April 2001, Union members staged industrial action against bosses in a dispute over their terms and conditions. They picketed the factory gates after they were locked out. Eight weeks later, bosses sacked the members, which sparked a three-year dispute; the longest of its kind in North Wales. A plaque was placed to commemorate this event (Article) After losing a legal battle in 2002, Friction Dynamics called in the receivers in August 2003 and all workers were sacked. Three weeks later; Dynamex Friction was set up.
The site continued to operate until 2008 when it finally closed its doors.
Explore
the site, Three years ago was in a dire state, Much of the site was falling apart and was not a pleasant place to walk around, by the looks of things though the place is still standing, maybe due to contamination? or no one has forked out for demo yet, seems prime development for a new housing estate but that's just me. Just enough Photogenicness left to make a report from this, Plus who doesn't love boilers.
The Ferodo factory in Caernarfon; Friction Dynamex; was opened by Princess Margaret in 1962. By the late 1960s it employed up to 1,100 making braking components and friction pad. The site was then bought by American; Craig Smith in 1997 and renamed “Friction Dynamics”, operating with a workforce of 220 in that year. By April 2001, Union members staged industrial action against bosses in a dispute over their terms and conditions. They picketed the factory gates after they were locked out. Eight weeks later, bosses sacked the members, which sparked a three-year dispute; the longest of its kind in North Wales. A plaque was placed to commemorate this event (Article) After losing a legal battle in 2002, Friction Dynamics called in the receivers in August 2003 and all workers were sacked. Three weeks later; Dynamex Friction was set up.
The site continued to operate until 2008 when it finally closed its doors.
Explore
the site, Three years ago was in a dire state, Much of the site was falling apart and was not a pleasant place to walk around, by the looks of things though the place is still standing, maybe due to contamination? or no one has forked out for demo yet, seems prime development for a new housing estate but that's just me. Just enough Photogenicness left to make a report from this, Plus who doesn't love boilers.
