Factory fallout: Manufacturing plant closures and layoffs from Eaton, Azurity, Howard Miller, and more
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 KSNB News, Eaton will shut down its engine valve manufacturing division at the Kearney, Nebraska plant by the end of 2025, resulting in dozens of layoffs. The decision was made due to customer feedback indicating that production costs at the Kearney facility were "no longer competitive." In a recent quote, Tom Nellenbach, Eaton Marketing Director, said, “The decision was not a reflection on the hard work done by Eaton employees in Kearney.” While engine valve production will cease, gear production at the plant will continue, and affected employees will receive a comprehensive transition assistance package.
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According to News Channel 3, Howard Miller, a nearly 100-year-old family-owned manufacturer of clocks and furniture, will shut down its operations by the end of 2025, impacting approximately 195 employees across its facilities in Michigan and North Carolina. The company cited inflation, labor shortages, tariffs, and a slowdown in the housing market as factors that have made continued operations unsustainable. In a recent quote, Howard J. “Buzz” Miller, president and CEO, said, “We are incredibly disappointed to have reached this point in our journey. For nearly a century, we have manufactured clocks, custom cabinets and other furniture designed to enhance the lives of our customers at home. We’ve been blessed with an incredible workforce of skilled craftspeople and professionals who enabled our company to grow and prosper for decades.” Howard Miller will continue customer service and warranty support, and will offer severance packages and job placement assistance to affected employees.
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According to MLive, Marshall Excelsior Co., a Michigan-based manufacturer of gas valves and components for the safe transport of liquefied petroleum gas and ammonia, will permanently close all three of its facilities in Marshall, resulting in the loss of 71 jobs. Layoffs will begin on September 26, with all positions eliminated by March 30, 2026, and no union representation or bumping rights will be available for affected employees. In a recent quote, the company stated, “All affected employees have been notified of their separation dates and that their separation from employment will be permanent.” The closures affect facilities located at 1506 and 1508 George Brown Drive and 1505 Adam Drive.
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According to the Daily Times, Alloy Surfaces Company Inc., a Chester Township manufacturer of pyrophoric decoys and a division of Chemring Group PLC, will begin closing its facility on August 30, affecting 52 employees. The company has informed the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry and is considering selling the facility, but closure is expected by year’s end if no buyer is found. In a recent quote, Rupert Pittman, group director of Corporate Affairs, Chemring Group PLC, said, “Over the past decade Chemring has seen a steady decrease in demand for its Alloy Surfaces Company’s (“ASC”) pyrophoric decoys. Despite significant effort and engagement with its customers ASC has received insufficient orders to viably sustain operations as a stand-alone business. Chemring is therefore considering its strategic options for this business, which includes both finding a suitable buyer and, if necessary, closing the business at the end of the year once all existing customer commitments have been fulfilled.”
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According to Fierce Pharma, Azurity Pharmaceuticals is closing its manufacturing facility in Wilmington, Massachusetts, and eliminating 75 positions as part of a broader strategy to shift production to external partners. The company filed a WARN notice with the state, stating that layoffs will begin in mid-September and continue through December 31. Azurity has been winding down operations at the site for the past six months and plans to formally close the plant by the end of 2025. In a recent quote, an Azurity spokesperson said, “Our internal manufacturing has become a smaller part of our overall supply chain, and we are strategically moving our manufacturing of the in-house products to other domestic manufacturing partners.” The company noted that most of its medicines are already produced by contract manufacturers and that going forward, all of its products will be made this way.
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