Plant closing in Albany; 80 jobs lost
ALBANY — Albany will be losing 80 jobs with the closing of Ogden Manufacturing facilities.
“They kept this a big secret right up until the end,” Albany Village President Larry Hanson said.
Hanson said he found out Tuesday because his wife has worked for the company for 28 years.
“They called my wife at home yesterday while she was on vacation and said they were closing,” he said.
He predicted that the closing would have a definite effect on the village of about 1,200. He said many of the employees are couples.
The facility is Albany’s largest employer. The Janesville Gazette incorrectly reported Wednesday the closure would cost the village eight jobs.
Chromalox, a manufacturer of industrial heating products, said company restructuring is forcing it to close its Ogden Manufacturing facilities in Albany and Orfordville, according to a company news release.
“We need to reduce overhead, consolidate operations and reduce costs so we remain competitive,” said Barbara Lee, marketing communications manager for Chromalox. “It’s a situation a lot of businesses are facing right now.”
Production will move to existing manufacturing locations in Tennessee.
The restructuring also affects about 30 in Orfordville.
Employees were informed of the closings Tuesday and have been given the opportunity to relocate, the release said.
Lee said corporate staff are on site today in Albany.
The Orfordville move will start in July with targeted completion in September. The Albany change will begin in August with targeted completion in December.
“Our Wisconsin plants have been consistent contributors to our success, so the decision to close these facilities is extremely difficult,” Jorge Hidalgo, chief operating officer, said in a statement. “However, consolidation of our operations is necessary to maintain our competitive advantage as materials costs rise and market pressures increase.”
Chromalox manufactures electric heat and control products, including heating components, immersion heaters, circulation systems, heat transfer systems, boilers, industrial and comfort air heating, heat trace cables, sensors and precision electronic controls.
The company has manufacturing, engineering, warehousing and sales locations throughout North America and Europe. It is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa.
May 2, 2008 at 10:38 a.m.
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Most of you are unaware that Green County job service is now only open on Thursday they are looking to close it also!!! So what are we suppose to do when Green county no longer has a job center for us to go to.
May 2, 2008 at 8:16 a.m.
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Will these people get the red carpet treatment Doyle is giving the GM employees?
May 2, 2008 at 7:56 a.m.
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Goes to show who is paying off our goverment! GM obviously is a large Doyle supporter so they will get the states help, yet any other company who lays off their workers they could give a rats ***. Our goverment is so full of its self. People are losing jobs everywhere and no one seems to care about the american worker in reality! Jobs are being sent oversees or closing and our economy is suffering, and yet if you give large amounts to Doyle and making the politicians pockets fuller then they will respond by offering extra unemployment benefits and grants such as the GM workers, but if you are anyone else other then GM you dont get crap. How sad!
May 2, 2008 at 7:35 a.m.
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Is the state planning on sending a Rapid Response Team to Albany to help the workers that are losing their jobs?
May 2, 2008 at 5:50 a.m.
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Unknown- what didn't you understand, they are CLOSING the plant, there are not going to be any jobs to KEEP!!
May 1, 2008 at 9:40 p.m.
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The HR people that came and spoke to the employees doesn't really care about there jobs considering they still have theirs! Hopefully the people that are not going to stick around to the end, find good paying jobs elsewhere! Orfordville and Albany really don't have that huge of a job market! My prayers are with all, especially my mom, who works there!!!
May 1, 2008 at 4:40 p.m.
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What the employees get is severance pay ranging from 2weeks of pay to top pay of 11 weeks of pay. If they choose to relocate, the supervisor will bring in local papers from that area so the employee can find a place to live and or jobs for their spouses.
No moving expenses included.The HR ladies that came to tell the Wisconsin employees were rude and talked down to them. They told the employees that the work they did was the best and they had on time delivery good quality product but that was not good enough. They would rather send their work to Mexico to save a few bucks.Meanwhile putting 110 familes in the poor house and all they can say is "sorry".
May 1, 2008 at 2:14 p.m.
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Govorner Doyle needs to stop thinking about what to do when people lose their jobs and start thinking about what to do to keep jobs in Wisconsin. It is a shame that so many companies leave Wisconsin for other states. May be if Wisconsin wasn't a "tax hell" more business would stay here.
May 1, 2008 at 1:26 p.m.
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gwendt- to answer your question, does Albany have a Job Center, no, we don't have a grocery store, we do however, have 3 bars, a bowling alley with a bar, 2 restaurants that close up at 4 pm, and 4 churches! In the summer time we have the best tubing down the sugar river!! That is it for our Village.
May 1, 2008 at 12:49 p.m.
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Wouldn't it be nice if the Governor would extend all the benefits to these displaced workers as he did for the GM employees. Bet he doesn't!
May 1, 2008 at 11:35 a.m.
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My heart goes out to the displaced workers! What kind of package are they giving the employees that want to relocate? I hope they are paying moving expenses, etc! Good Luck and God Bless!!!
May 1, 2008 at 11:28 a.m.
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Quite a blow to such a small community.Our Prayers go out to each & everyone affected.Many more than 80 are affected, kids, etc.
Have they got a Job Center in Albany?
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