ELYRIA — Moen will close its Elyria manufacturing plant by the end of the year, ending more than a half century’s worth of ties to the city and forcing more than 70 employees to look for new jobs.

The company specializing in faucet components will cut 73 local jobs when it consolidates operations in Elyria with a similar plant in Sanford, N.C.

Kathy Flinn, director of advertising and brand for Moen, said the company will do what it can to help its employees find new jobs.

“It was a very difficult decision to make,” Flinn said. “We’ve got a really good workforce in Elyria.”

The company began considering cost-cutting after a downturn in the housing market, Moen spokesman Joe Mosbrook said. Both the Elyria plant and the one in North Carolina specialize in machines, manufacturing and brass screw fittings.

Moen moved to Elyria in 1957, more than 20 years after Al Moen invented the valve that made the faucet possible in Seattle. Moen was part of Stanadyne, and later became part of American Brands in 1990.

In 1994, the company moved its headquarters and the bulk of its local workforce — more than 350 — to North Olmsted. Moen employs about 3,000 worldwide.

The manufacturing plant in Sanford, N.C., employs 465 workers, but about 20 will be trimmed from the staff there. No other cuts are expected at this time for the company, according to Moen representatives.

Elyria Mayor Bill Grace said he felt uneasiness upon hearing that more manufacturing jobs were being lost in his community, as well as Northeastern Ohio.

“It’s happening across the country,” Grace said. “But Northeast Ohio is arguably being hit the hardest in the country.”

Grace pointed to federal tax policy and union issues, among others, as being to blame for the woes of the manufacturing sector. Those things, he said, are outside the control of local communities like Elyria.

While the city has a lot going for it, he said, the loss of more manufacturing jobs is something that’s being felt throughout the state.

“My heart goes out to the families directly affected by this,” Grace said. “These are challenging times.’’

Contact Stephen Szucs at 329-7129 or sszucs@chroniclet.com.

 

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