Trulite Glass closing Hebron plant
HEBRON – Trulite Glass and Aluminum Solutions, formerly AGC Flat Glass, will close its Hebron plant this spring, affecting 70 employees.
The company filed notice of the plant closing with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, stating that the employees will be permanently laid off on or about March 8, or within 14 days after that date.
Trulite, based in Deerfield Beach, Florida, purchased the U.S. commercial fabrication assets of AGC Glass Company North America in December.
Dan Evers, director of Grow Licking County community improvement corporation, said the closing is not a result of employee performance at the local plant at 160 N. High St.
"It's the result of an acquisition of the company," Evers said. "The decision was made at the corporate level, completely about consolidation of assets, and no reflection on the men and women at that company."
The Licking County Department of Job and Family Services sent a Direct Response Team to the company to assist employees, Evers said.
Hebron Mayor Clifford Mason said the company gave no warning before a Jan. 6 letter providing notification of the closing.
"It kind of caught us by surprise," Mason said. "It's unfortunate. Our hearts and prayers go out to the employees and their families. We had no clue that it was coming."
Mason said that, the day he received the letter, the company had a "Now hiring. Apply within" sign posted outside the facility.
The company's letter to the state, Mason and Licking County Commissioner Tim Bubb stated that none of the employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements or represented by a union, and there are no bumping or transfer rights.
Windy Murphy, supervisor of business services for OhioMeansJobs Licking County, said the county's Rapid Response Orientation team visited the company twice to assist employees who will lose their jobs. The employees worked in various jobs, including management, production, maintenance, customer service and sales, she said.
The county department notified Licking County employers of the state's on-the-job training program, which reimburses employers 50 percent of an employee's wages during training, up to $6,000 or for six months, if they hire the workers about to lose their job.
"It's an incentive for the employer, and it helps the job seeker," Murphy said. "Within 24 hours (of the notification), we had 11 replies from employers. It makes you feel real good about the place you live and work when you have the outpouring supporting these individuals."
The county's unemployment rate has dropped to 4 percent as the economy improves, so opportunities should be available for those seeking work, Murphy said.
"It's really a job seeker's market because so many employers are looking to hire," Murphy said.
In 2008, the president and CEO of AGC Flat Glass, Brad Kitterman, came from Atlanta to the Hebron plant to present the company's Innovation and Operational Excellence Award to employees for their efforts in turning around the facility and saving about 100 jobs.
The company was for sale in 2008, when Kitterman told employees their efforts to improve efficiency at the Hebron plant would make the facility more appealing to a buyer of the company.
AGC Flat Glass had been losing money but finally turned a profit in 2007, when sales increased 11 percent, the company stated at the 2008 award presentation.
Trulite has 26 fabrication facilities in the U.S. and Canada. The company states on its website that it offers a complete line of architectural aluminum products, fabricated glass, all glass entrances, decorative glass and mirrors.
kmallett@newarkadvocate.com
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Twitter: @kmallett1958