City Attorney Sean Surrisi told WKVI that the officials at Whitley Products had asked for a tax abatement years ago when they wanted to install $600,000–$700,000 worth of equipment at their Plymouth facility. The council was concerned about that equipment when Whitley had decided to close their doors as they had heard that some of that equipment might have been sold.
According to Marshall County Economic Development Executive Director Jay Bahr, six or seven employees will be working at the plant purchased by Michigan-based Aggressive Manufacturing Innovations. AMI has retained the Plant Manager from the Whitley Products crew and the employees at the Plymouth plant will continue manufacturing parts for tractors and diesel-powered equipment for the agriculture business.
The Whitley Products plant in Plymouth has a new owner.
Marshall County Economic Development Commission Executive Director Jay Bahr told WKVI that Whitley has closed on a deal with Aggressive Manufacturing Innovations and more information on that deal will be released yet this week.
Marshall County’s new economic development director is cautiously optimistic a deal can be finalized to keep a local factory in business. Jay Bahr tells “The South Bend Tribune” the receiver in charge of Whitley Products is trying to find another buyer for the financially strapped business. A deal fell apart Friday because the two sides were too far apart on price, forcing the embattled Plymouth plant to close its doors. About 40 people are without jobs as a result. Whitley Products makes fabricated tubular products for agriculture and off-road heavy equipment. The company’s fate has been uncertain for the past several months. It first closed in January, citing financial problems, but reopened a week later. Whitley Products officials then sent a WARN notice to the state advising it “would likely permanently cease all its operations” in Warsaw and Plymouth and all employees would be terminated between April 22 and May 6.
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A deal to keep a Plymouth manufacturing plant open has apparently fallen through. WSBT-TV reports that negotiations between AMI Incorporated and Whitney Products have fallen through because the sides are too far apart. Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter tells the TV station AMI officials notified him on Friday that they couldn’t reach an agreement. This latest development likely means Whitney is closing its Marshall County plant for good. About 50 people work there. The company sent WARN notices to employees earlier this year alerting them to the possible closing. The Warsaw-based company makes precision tubular products for diesel engines, agricultural equipment, off-highway, construction equipment and HVAC markets.
The state is mobilizing resources to help the 86 employees of a Marshall County plant that is set to close in the next few months. Plymouth-based Whitley Products filed a WARN notice with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development last week. It’s a legal step that requires companies with 100 or more employees to file a 60-day notice of any plant closing or mass layoff. A copy of the notice is shared with employees.
A spokesman for the Department of Workforce Development says it allows the state to mobilize a rapid response team to help transition affected workers into other employment. He says the state offers a variety of programs and encourages all employees to register with the local Work One office as soon as possible to get the process started.
A Marshall County plant is expected to close within the next few months. Plymouth-based Whitley Products filed a WARN notice Tuesday to alert its 86 employees they will likely lose their jobs. Last month the Marshall County tubing company announced plans to close and lay off all employees. It reopened less than two weeks later after a court order was issued.
In the wake of an unexpected closure of a precision tubular product manufacturer in Plymouth, WorkOne will hold two dedicated “Rapid Response” informational sessions as well as job fairs for those who were let go from their jobs from Whitley Products.
The manufacturer in Plymouth released a statement last week announcing that they have been forced to close their doors due to a lack of funding from their senior lender.
A precision tubular product manufacturer in Plymouth released a statement yesterday announcing that they have been forced to close their doors due to a lack of funding from their senior lender.
Whitley Products announced that their lender has refused to provide the necessary funding required for the business to continue operations, forcing the business to terminate operations and all of their employees, passing possession and control of all of their operating assets to Keltic Financial Partners.
