Factory Fallout: Manufacturing plant closures from Polaris, GAF, and CNH Industrial
With political winds changing and global markets tightening, manufacturers are making tough decisions—and workers are feeling the impact. In this roundup, we chronicle the closures and cutbacks reverberating throughout the manufacturing sector. As uncertainty becomes the new normal, we examine how businesses and workers alike are navigating a rapidly changing industrial landscape.
According to BizJournals, TekniPlex, a medical packaging manufacturer, is closing its Milwaukee plant at 6161 N. 64th St., eliminating 39 jobs with layoffs beginning March 27 and the closure completing by April 30. This shutdown follows the company’s earlier acquisition and is part of a broader restructuring of its production footprint.
According to Patch, Roofing products maker GAF will permanently shut its Minneapolis facility at 50 Lowry Ave. N., laying off 120 workers effective April 4 as the company ceases operations there. In a recent quote, a GAF spokesperson said, “To best position GAF for continued long-term growth, we are strategically investing in the manufacturing sites that have the most significant advantages in scale and capability to meet our customers’ needs. As part of this effort, we have made the difficult decision to permanently cease production at our Minneapolis facility, effective immediately, and begin the decommissioning process to close the plant.”
According to the Des Moines Register, CNH Industrial is closing its Burlington, Iowa, equipment plant by the end of May, with Iowa WARN notices indicating roughly 209 job losses between late March and May; demand for loader backhoes has dropped significantly, contributing to the shutdown.
According to FOX21 News, EPTAM West Precision Metals, a metal manufacturing company in Colorado Springs, is closing its facility and will lay off 134 employees beginning mid-March as part of ending operations at that location.
According to Star Tribune, Polaris, which produces engines and components for powersports vehicles, plans to close its Osceola, Wisconsin, manufacturing plant by the end of 2026, resulting in about 200 layoffs as production shifts to other facilities following the sale of its Indian Motorcycle brand.