Corrugados Getafe, a Spanish reinforcing bar plant operating for 75 years, has announced its permanent closure, affecting 152 employees. The decision was made due to neighborhood pressure from population growth, stricter environmental regulations prohibiting nighttime operations, and altered market competitiveness in Europe from US tariffs.

Corrugados Getafe, part of Grupo Industrial CL, said this closure followed a previous temporary layoff plan at the end of 2022 due to fewer orders and high energy costs.

While the company sees regulatory changes as an insurmountable obstacle, environmental groups argue that Corrugados Getafe failed to invest enough to meet environmental requirements.

The City Council is negotiating re-employment options for affected workers and views the closure as an opportunity to eliminate a major pollution source. Most residents were happy to see the end of the factory they consider harmful to their life quality.