A MEETING today is expected to formally spell the end for ailing Ballarat manufacturer John Valves.
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After months of unsuccessful negotiations, court battles and confusion over the sale process, more than 160 employees will receive termination notices in the mail today and tomorrow.
It is believed talks between US-based Lunkenheimer and prospective buyer Richard Ince, of Norvil Foundry, were still continuing toward a sale on the weekend, but that those talks had not been fruitful.
Centrelink has been involved during the administration process and the Ballarat business community is expected to rally around employees to help the workers find new jobs.
A union official recently told The Courier the John Valves discussions had been "more complicated than Ansett", an administration process he had also been involved in.
John Valves has been operating in one form or another in Ballarat since 1895. Its Creswick Rd site was headquarters for a company which manufactured valves for markets across the world.
The company was voluntarily placed in the hands of administrators Carson and McLellan PPB in mid-December last year.
It had struggled to record significant profits during the past five years due to increased competition, both here and abroad.
A court injunction won by Lunkenheimer in the Federal Court last week was the last straw for administrators Carson and McLellan PPB.
The case revolved around ownership of intellectual property to manufacture slurry valves, which John Valves has done through a licence agreement for many years.
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union state secretary Victor Jose yesterday told The Courier a meeting would be held today in Ballarat and was expected to formally recognise the start of the wind-down process.
Mr Jose is among many who have been frustrated at the processes which have followed the appointment of the administrators.
He believes John Valves employees have suffered at the mercy of the process.
"The events over the last six months have been disgraceful," Mr Jose said.
"I think in 10 years time we'll still be scratching our heads wondering what all the motives were."
He said the difficulties in employees obtaining new jobs was just the start of the problems.
"Having 160 people notified in the mail that they will lose their jobs (is bad) and that doesn't include the flow on effects.
"This is very sad for Ballarat."
He maintained the actions of Lunkenheimer during the sale process had been unhelpful.
Lunkenheimer has actively taken part in negotiations, but a deal between the company and Mr Ince has been unable to clear many hurdles.
Adminstrator Craig Crosbie did not return The Courier's calls yesterday.
