A COMPANY which specialises in testing technical and commercial products is considering closing its laboratory in Bridgwater.

Element has a testing laboratory based at Bridgwater's Showground Business Park but has confirmed it is considering closing the site meaning several jobs are at risk.

The laboratory specialises in testing products such as airframes and jet engines from across the globe, with a 'comprehensive materials testing and evaluation service'.

A spokesman for Element said: "Many of the end markets in which our customers operate have been affected by the pandemic and the uncertainty that it has created – this has permanently affected volumes across Element, including in our UK aerospace testing business, which the Bridgwater laboratory is part of.

"We are considering a number of options for the future of the laboratory, including the possibility of closure and are currently in consultation discussions with colleagues."

The Element laboratory has been based in Bridgwater for more than 30 years and developed from a traditional routine metallic testing laboratory into an aerospace testing facility.

The company has also branched out in Bridgwater to include testing of items used in the food, beverage and dairy industries.