Ariens announces closure of Auburn facility, nearly 200 expected to lose jobs
By Noah Johnson, NET News
June 15, 2018, 3:15 a.m. ·
Nearly 200 Auburn workers will be out of a job after an outdoor power equipment company announced the closure of a manufacturing plant Thursday.
Ariens Company said that the shutdown of the plant is expected to be complete between August 17 and October 15, 2018. The closure comes as the company attempts to shift production to its Brillion, Wisconsin headquarters.
Ariens purchased the plant in 2007 to manufacture products that the company’s Brillion, Wisconsin plants could not hold at the time. However, due to productivity improvements to the Brillion plants over the past several months, the Auburn facility was no longer viewed as an economical option.
“This was a difficult decision knowing the Auburn employee base and the Auburn community, but it just doesn’t make economic sense to keep this plant running in light of the significant productivity improvements that have been made elsewhere in the company,” according to a statement from Ariens President Larry Weyers in a company press release.