“Fabrizio Pedroni, 49, said he was driven to the drastic course of action because his factory had not turned a profit for five years and he was being strangled by high salaries, crippling taxes and dismal rates of productivity. Moving the factory to Eastern Europe was the only way of saving his company, which was founded 50 years ago by his grandfather. When his 40 employees found out what had happened, they were furious. They were not due to return from holiday until next week but got wind of the covert operation and turned up at the Firem factory in the town of Formigine to find the place devoid of machinery.  Mr Pedroni says he has received death threats and will not be returning to Italy anytime soon.”