Factory fallout: Manufacturing layoffs from Ultium Cells LLC, Wabash National, Spartech and more

According to the December ISM report, manufacturing remains in a contracting space, constrained by uncertainty over global tariffs, production supplies, and the interminable talent gap. Below, read more about five manufacturers making the call to close down plants or lay off workers as they downsize or exit business.

J&J Snack Foods will close three production facilities by the end of the first quarter of 2026, according to reporting from Supply Chain Dive and the company’s 2025 Q4 earnings call. On the call, J&J CEO Daniel Fachner said the consolidation would support an intentional shift towards regional distribution centers. The brand is known for Icee brand frozen drinks and Dippin’ Dots brand frozen desserts.

Spartech filed a WARN notice with the state of Indiana on December 19 that it would begin laying off or transferring all 125 workers at its Muncie, Indiana plastic film packaging factory as it prepares to close the factory permanently. The company began laying off workers December 23 and said they would run through February 13, 2026.

Local news media station KNSI reported Wabash National would close its factory in Little Falls, Minnesota, effective April 17. Based on a WARN report filed with the state, the semi-trailer and truck body manufacturer will lay off all 56 employees at the plant in two stages, starting March 6 and April 3. Affected positions include assemblers, welders, machine operators, maintenance technicians and more.

Ultium Cells, LLC, the joint venture battery company run by General Motors and LG Energy Solution, began laying off more than a thousand employees from its Lordstown, Ohio battery manufacturing plant January 5. According to local news WFMJ 21, the planned mass layoff includes 1,334 hourly employees, including 1,090 battery assembly-operators, 142 quality operators and 102 material operators. According to a WARN notice filed with the state in August 2025, however, 850 of the layoffs are expected to be temporary. The employees are represented by the United Auto Workers.

And more UAW workers may be affected by the “tentative” closure of Colm Selmer’s factory in Eastlake, Ohio. In a January 7 release, the band and orchestral instrument manufacturer said it would close its Ohio factory and shift production of some instruments to another factory in Elkhart, Indiana. The closure, which the company says is subject to negotiation with the United Auto Workers, will affect 150 UAW members. The UAW, in a statement, accused the instrument maker of closing the factory to move production overseas to China.