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 PennLive, hardwood products manufacturer Weaber Inc., operating as ChoiceWood, will close its facility in Oil Creek Township, Pennsylvania, on August 25. The closure will affect 46 employees, with layoffs scheduled to occur between August 25 and September 8. The company filed a WARN notice with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry on June 25. The facility is located at 11117 Skyline Drive near Titusville. 
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According to PennLive, Whitford Corporation, a subsidiary of PPG Industries that manufactures specialty coatings, will close its facility in Elverson, Pennsylvania, as part of a global cost-reduction initiative. The closure of the plant at 47 Park Ave. will result in the layoff of 82 employees, with layoffs occurring between August 19, 2025, and December 31, 2026. Operations are expected to cease by January 15, 2027, with the facility fully closing by March 31. PPG stated the decision aims to improve service and reduce structural costs, and affected employees will be eligible for severance and potential transfers to other company sites. 
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Cascades Inc. has announced the permanent closure of its corrugated medium manufacturing facility in Niagara Falls, NY, with production scheduled to end no later than September 3, 2025. The closure will affect 123 employees and is part of the company’s strategy to optimize its packaging production platform. In a recent quote, Jean-David Tardif, Executive Vice-President, Packaging, said, "This is a difficult decision, but one that is an essential part of our focus on optimizing the performance of our Packaging sector. The future growth momentum for Cascades and our customers is very promising, and we are well positioned to capitalize on opportunities for strategic and sustainable growth. We know what we need to do to get there—simplify, optimize and focus." 
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According to Midland Daily News, Dow, a global materials science company, will close three manufacturing plants in Europe—two in Germany and one in the United Kingdom—affecting approximately 800 jobs. The closures include an ethylene cracker in Böhlen and chlor-alkali and vinyl operations in Schkopau, both in Germany, by late 2027, and a basic siloxanes plant in Barry, United Kingdom, by mid-2026. In a recent quote, Jim Fitterling, Chair and CEO of Dow, said, “Our industry in Europe continues to face difficult market dynamics, as well as an ongoing challenging cost and demand landscape. We’re taking proactive steps to strengthen our portfolio and long-term financial performance.” Dow plans to spend around $500 million over four years on closure-related costs, with decommissioning potentially continuing into 2029. 
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According to WHYY News, Gilead Sciences has shut down the Tmunity Therapeutics division in Philadelphia, resulting in the elimination of the last 14 positions at the Center City office by the end of June. The layoffs are part of a broader office consolidation by Gilead, whose subsidiary Kite Pharma had been overseeing Tmunity’s operations. Tmunity, a biotech startup focused on cell therapy, was founded in 2015 and previously maintained a manufacturing facility in East Norriton, Pennsylvania. That facility has since transitioned to Resilience, another biotechnology company. At its peak, Tmunity employed dozens in the Philadelphia area, but never publicly disclosed exact workforce numbers. 
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