Corning Inc. (www.corning.com) may close its optical fiber manufacturing operation in Deeside, North Wales. The company made the announcement in response to the continued weakening in demand for optical fiber in North America and Europe.

Corning, based in Corning, NY, plans to continue low-level operations at the facility through the end of this year. Approximately 436 employees will be affected.

�It is regrettable that we must consider taking this action,� says Alan Eusden, senior vice president and general manager of Corning Optical Fiber. �But this is the most viable course given the difficult market environment we are facing. Corning will utilize a consultative process with employee representatives and will act with responsibility and compassion.�

Corning acquired the 50% of the Deeside operations, then known as Optical Fibres, that it did not already own from BICC, plc in November 1998. The plant is one of five Corning optical fiber manufacturing plants worldwide. The other operations are located in Wilmington and Concord, NC, Neustadt Bei Coburg, Germany and Noble Park, Victoria, Australia.