By Laurie Watson

The man responsible for forming Dundee’s troubled Wright Health Group said the company’s decision to relocate its production powers to Hungary is a very sad day for the city.

Dr Pat McPherson, one of Dundee’s best-known post-war industrialists, purchased the then F. H. Wright Dental Manufacturing Company—at the time the smallest dental company in the UK—in 1946.

His dedication and commitment saw the firm surge in size to become one of the UK’s biggest in the dental industry.

Speaking at his Dundee home, Dr McPherson said he had been shocked to hear of the demise of artificial tooth production in yesterday’s Courier.

He said, “It’s a very sad and emotional day for me as the founder of the company 61 years ago. I am deeply disappointed to hear that manufacturing in Dundee is no longer economical.”

Dr McPherson said he was extremely disappointed by the latest blow to hit the city, however, he stressed that it would have been an even darker day for the company if its production arm had ceased to exist completely.

He said, “It’s extremely sad that production has to cease in Dundee, but we live in a world where increasing price demands means reducing manufacturing costs in order to remain competitive. Unfortunately we have already seen with the likes of NCR in Dundee of the need to transfer labour costs overseas where they are obviously more cost effective.”

Dr McPherson retired in 1996, but foremost in his mind were those families sadly affected by the firm’s decision to axe 50 production jobs.

He said he still had many friends and valued colleagues working for Wright’s.

Although around 50 jobs seem set to go at the Dundee plant, the firm made a commitment yesterday to retain 60 staff in Dundee as well as maintaining its Dunsinane HQ.

Concerned employees revealed yesterday that they had become increasingly aware that production may have been heading abroad in recent months, claiming management had been openly seen measuring the site late last year.

However, a spokeswoman for WHG denied the Dunsinane site was facing complete closure.

She said, “Plans have been made for the production area to be renovated to cater for an increased distribution space. We have no intention to sell the Dundee site.”

The firm’s commitment to the city ended a day of disbelief and doubt amongst workers at Dundee’s Wright Healthcare Group.

Several distressed workers said they had witnessed a two-year period of targeted recruitment favouring foreign staff over Dundonians.

WHGs managing director Ian Matheson was unavailable for comment yesterday, however, a spokeswoman for the firm refuted the allegations.

She confirmed the firm had employed several EU workers in recent months, claiming that it had become increasingly difficult to source staff in the city.

Citing an ever-growing choice of suppliers, WHG have blamed the decision to axe production on severe price demands on their manufacturing business.

However, employees said WHG’s claim that it had been a “difficult and emotional” decision given its long history as a manufacturer in Dundee cut very little sympathy with the devastated workforce.

One employee said “They may be saying 50 jobs will be affected and 60 will be retained in Dundee, but the truth is over the past few years 50 or 60 positions have already gone.”