MEDICAL devices manufacturer Penlon, based in Abingdon, has embarked on its second round of redundancies within a year.

Chief executive officer Stephen Moon said the company sent an email to staff on Monday informing them the firm had started a consultation process.

Founded in Oxford in 1943, Penlon designs and manufactures medical devices in fields such as anaesthesia, oxygen therapy and suction.

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He told the Oxford Mail: “It’s a consultation for considering positions for redundancies.

“It will probably be finalised in the next few weeks.”

Mr Moon declined to say how many jobs could go out of the 160 full-time staff.

The CEO said the move was due to a distributor in Latin America losing a significant contract.

Mr Moon “One of our partners in Latin America lost a major order, which we were expecting to receive.

“They have enjoyed that order for many years.”

Penlon had earlier completed a round of redundancies in mid-2014.

Mr Moon said in that round “a small number of roles” were axed, adding: “We were able to redeploy people in different areas.”

The company exports its products to more than 90 countries.

They cover Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East and Asia.

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