When the restructuring is completed, the Dudley site will continue to employ approximately 265 people and remain Rhodia Pharma Solutions' largest single operation.
"Following the consolidation of our pharmaceutical businesses into a single enterprise and a review of our strategy and current market conditions, it is clear that we need to simplify and streamline our operations in Dudley, " said Nick Green, president of Rhodia Pharma Solutions.
He added that the measures would improve Rhodia's cost position and that recent mergers in the pharmaceutical industry had led to decreased demand for the kind of services Rhodia provides from the Dudley site.
During the next few weeks, Rhodia will be discussing details of the restructuring with union representatives and employees at the Dudley site. The company's goal is to complete the restructuring programme by the end of this year.
Rhodia acquired the Dudley site from ChiRex in 2000. It operated under the name Rhodia ChiRex until becoming part of Rhodia Pharma Solutions in 2003, when Rhodia consolidated its pharmaceutical market businesses into one enterprise.
Rhodia announced the expansion of its capabilities in Annan, Scotland and Dudley during the past year. The company also confirmed last month that its Chambers Works site in New Jersey (USA), where it announced last year it would consolidate North American operations, was up and running and handling new projects.