SEVENTEEN office jobs are at risk at a carton factory. Nampak Cartons, of Grosvenor Road, Gillingham Business Park, is one of two plants affected by plans to cut costs and boost efficiency.

Nampak is considering closing its Crewkerne, Somerset, factory with the possible loss of 108 jobs, and reorganising its office operations in Gillingham, resulting in the possible loss of 17 jobs.

The business was established at Rochester in 1982 as Insight Cartons and moved to Gillingham Business Park in 1990. It was later known as MY Cartons before becoming Nampak Cartons. It employs 171 people in Gillingham.

The move follows a review of its business across plants in the UK and Continental Europe.

It has announced major investment in the latest equipment and automation to underline its "confidence as a leading player in an industry undergoing constant change and shy of re-investment."

It says it wants to be the lowest cost producer in the UK and that means focusing on its most modern factories.

In a statement, Nampak said: "Unfortunately the requirement for increased efficiency has also led the company to review its older facilities and its administrative functions.

"As a result of this review the company is now considering the possible closure of its Crewkerne factory and the reorganisation of certain administration roles at Gillingham. This proposal could result in 108 and 17 jobs being redundant at the respective sites.

"At this stage this proposal has not been finalised in any way and no definite decision will be made until consultation with all affected employees and their representatives has been completed. This consultation process will now commence and continue over the next three months."