BOSSES at the German firm about to buy Blackburn's Scapa-Scandia factory say it is too early to say what its future will be.

But Voith has confirmed it will merge the Blackburn business with its existing paper machine clothing division once the £329 million goes through.

"It is too early to go into details about one particular location," said Friedrich-Karl Finck, head of communications.

"But we are committed to the long term future of the paper industry and see this as a very good deal to strengthen our position."

He said once the deal had gone through managers would start looking at the best way to reorganise its existing operations with the former Scapa factories which may take up to two years. Voith's paper machine clothing division already has sites in Germany, the US and China.

Following the buyout Ivan Fearnheard, a board director of Scapa who has worked for the group for 30 years, will become the head of the newly merged division.

Voith is a 132-year-old family owned paper machine business employing more than 12,000 people. It operates sites across the world including ones at Manchester and Croydon.

Scapa-Scandia's Cartmell Road factory employs more than 400 people manufacturing specialist fabrics, including press felts used on paper making machines.

Scapa, which has its headquarters on Preston Old Road in Blackburn, has said it wants to concentrate on other parts of its business such as its specialist tapes division.

In recent months the group has been battered by a series of profit warnings blamed on slack demand and the effects of the strong pound on exports.

Last year 75 jobs were lost and senior management axed at the Scapa-Scandia plant.

The sale also includes one of Scapa's other businesses in East Lancashire, Scapa Forming of Stubbins.

Peter Reid of the Transport and General Workers' union, which represents more than 200 employees at the Blackburn site, has expressed concern over the sale.

He said he would be seeking to speak to Voith to discuss their plans and to seek assurances about the future of the site.

Shares in Scapa Group rose by more than 20 per cent yesterday following the announcement of the sale which is still to be approved by shareholders.

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