The Philips Lighting plant in Bath will close by the end of 2013, putting approximately 280 people out of work.
The company told workers of the impending closure during a meeting Wednesday. It wasn’t immediately clear when layoff s will begin, but the company told employees that the plant will close by the end of next year.
Silvie Casanova, a Philips spokesperson, said the closure is the result of decreased demand for the lighting technology manufactured at the Bath plant. She said the lighting produced in Bath uses high-intensity discharge technology, which has fallen behind LED lighting technology. LED lighting lasts longer, is more energy efficient and can easily be integrated into other systems, Casanova said.
Philips will work with local and state officials to pursue new employment and training opportunities for workers affected by the plant closure, Casanova said.
Of the 280 people who will lose their jobs, approximately 215 are union employees. The Leader was unable to reach union leaders for comment.
Steuben County Deputy Administrator Jack Wheeler said Philips has
had some ups and downs in recent years, but county officials were taken by surprise by word of the impending closure. He said Jamie Johnson, the executive director of the Steuben County IDA, would reach out to Philips to see if there was anything that could be done to help avoid the closure.
“They’re a major employer in our community, not just for the village and town of Bath, but for the entire central part of the county. A closure of the facility, obviously, would be devastating,” Wheeler said.
The closure announcement comes on the heels of other plant closures in the region.
Hours before reports of the Philips closing, Bombadier announced layoffs are possible at the in Kanona next year.
The 135,000-squarefoot facility, located just off I- 86 near the Kanona exit, overhauls and refurbishes passenger rail cars. It employs 35 workers.
According to Bombardier spokeswoman Maryanne Roberts, the layoffs would begin in March and be done in phases.
And in late September, Sikorsky announced it would close its helicopter facilities in Big Flats. At the time, the company said it would cease operations there by the end of the year, and 575 people would lose their jobs.
Also recently, Corning Inc. laid off 100 hourly workers at its diesel facilities in the Corning area, citing a decline in demand for its products. The union said it hoped the layoffs would only be temporary.
The Philips Lighting plant in Bath will close by the end of 2013, putting approximately 280 people out of work.
The company told workers of the impending closure during a meeting Wednesday. It wasn’t immediately clear when layoff s will begin, but the company told employees that the plant will close by the end of next year.
Silvie Casanova, a Philips spokesperson, said the closure is the result of decreased demand for the lighting technology manufactured at the Bath plant. She said the lighting produced in Bath uses high-intensity discharge technology, which has fallen behind LED lighting technology. LED lighting lasts longer, is more energy efficient and can easily be integrated into other systems, Casanova said.
Philips will work with local and state officials to pursue new employment and training opportunities for workers affected by the plant closure, Casanova said.
Of the 280 people who will lose their jobs, approximately 215 are union employees. The Leader was unable to reach union leaders for comment.
Steuben County Deputy Administrator Jack Wheeler said Philips has
had some ups and downs in recent years, but county officials were taken by surprise by word of the impending closure. He said Jamie Johnson, the executive director of the Steuben County IDA, would reach out to Philips to see if there was anything that could be done to help avoid the closure.
“They’re a major employer in our community, not just for the village and town of Bath, but for the entire central part of the county. A closure of the facility, obviously, would be devastating,” Wheeler said.
The closure announcement comes on the heels of other plant closures in the region.
Hours before reports of the Philips closing, Bombadier announced layoffs are possible at the in Kanona next year.
The 135,000-squarefoot facility, located just off I- 86 near the Kanona exit, overhauls and refurbishes passenger rail cars. It employs 35 workers.
According to Bombardier spokeswoman Maryanne Roberts, the layoffs would begin in March and be done in phases.
And in late September, Sikorsky announced it would close its helicopter facilities in Big Flats. At the time, the company said it would cease operations there by the end of the year, and 575 people would lose their jobs.
Also recently, Corning Inc. laid off 100 hourly workers at its diesel facilities in the Corning area, citing a decline in demand for its products. The union said it hoped the layoffs would only be temporary.
