Late last year, Michigan-based Grede LLC told workers at its 50-year-old foundry in Brewton, Alabama, that the company planned to shutter all manufacturing operations by the end of 2025.
On April 1, the company issued a WARN notice with the state that says the wind down will begin on May 22, 2025, and some 160 employees will be affected. But it turns out many more will be out of work.
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According to AL.com, the Brewton facility has 130 hourly employees, 30 on salary and some 60 third-party contractors repped by the United Steelworkers union. So, in total, about 220 workers will be out of a job.
The plant makes highly engineered iron castings, and Grede will transfer the work to other locations by mid-year. The company has eight other locations, primarily in the Midwest, including three in Wisconsin.
Grede makes safety-critical components, like large axle housings, and chassis and drivetrain components used in the industrial machinery, automotive and commercial truck markets.
In a statement to AL.com, the company says its primary markets haven't rebounded to pre-COVID volumes, which has opened up capacity across its U.S. foundries.
Employees will receive a severance package and have been offered a chance to relocate to other plants. The company could repurpose the facility, potentially converting it into a warehouse or R&D center.
The Brewton foundry was built in 1975; operations started the following year. At one point, Grede operated four facilities in Alabama, the Brewton plant is the final location.
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Late last year, Michigan-based Grady LLC told
workers at its 50 year old foundry in Bruton,
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Alabama that the company planned to shutter all
manufacturing operations by the end of 2025.
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On April 1st, the company issued a warm notice
with the state that says the wind down will
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begin on May 22, 2025, and some 160 employees
will be affected.
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But it turns out that many more will be out of
work.
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According to AL.com, the Bruton facility has
130 hourly employees,
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30 on salary, and some 63rd party contractors
repped by the United Steel Workers Union.
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So in total about 220 workers will be out of a
job.
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The plant makes highly engineered iron castings,
and Grady will transfer the work to other
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locations by mid-year.
00:49.990 --> 00:53.150
The company has 8 other locations primarily in
the Midwest,
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including 3 in Wisconsin.
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Grady makes safety critical components like
large axle housings and chassis in drivetrain
01:00.259 --> 01:04.720
components used in the industrial machinery,
automotive, and commercial truck markets.
01:04.900 --> 01:10.160
In a statement to AL.com, the company says its
primary markets haven't rebounded to pre-COVID
01:10.160 --> 01:14.464
volumes, which has opened up capacity.
Across its US boundaries,
01:14.794 --> 01:19.074
employees will receive a severance package and
have been offered a chance to relocate to other
01:19.074 --> 01:22.105
plants.
The company could repurpose the facility,
01:22.355 --> 01:25.985
potentially converting it into a warehouse or
an R&D center.
01:26.235 --> 01:31.205
The Bruton Foundry was built in 1975.
Operations started the following year.
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At one point, Grady operated 4 facilities in
Alabama.
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The one in Bruton was the final one.
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I'm David Manti.
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This is manufacturing now.
