Eaton to Close Auburn Plant
(photo courtesy of Eaton Corp.)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIreland-based Eaton Corp. PLC (NYSE: ETN) is considering closing its facility in northeast Indiana. In a notice to the state, the power management company says the Auburn plant could shut its doors permanently next spring, leaving more than 100 employees out of work.
The facility manufactures angle spring clutches for legacy manual and automated heavy duty transmissions. In a statement to Inside INdiana Business, an Eaton spokesperson said there has been a decline in volume for such transmissions “as the market transitions to the Endurant Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies.”
Because of the current conditions, Eaton is consolidating its clutch manufacturing by moving the Auburn operations to its facility in North Carolina.
Eaton says the plant is expected to close in May 2021. The layoffs are set to take place over a two week period after February 10.
The hourly employees affected by the closure are represented by the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America Local 164. The affected salaried employees are not represented by a union and do not have bumping rights.
The spokesperson notes a final decision on closing the facility will not be made until after Eaton’s Vehicle Group and the union have met and discussed the plan.
The company says it will offer severance packages, benefits consultation, and outplacement assistance to eligible employees.
Eaton also has facilities in Georgia, Nebraska, North Carolina and Oregon.