Pinova plant in Brunswick closing after April fire; more than 200 employees will be laid off
The Pinova plant in Brunswick will not be reopening after an April 15 fire “destroyed core production assets and infrastructure,” according to a release from the company.
The company said in order to rebuild the plant after the fire, it will require substantial demolition, reconstruction, costs, and time. More than 200 employees will be losing their jobs.
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Employees were notified Wednesday of the planned closure of the plant. The company said layoffs will occur in a phased manner to safely wind down, decommission, and close the production site in compliance with all regulatory standards.
Wind-down activities, including emptying tanks and disassembling equipment will begin soon, although full shutdown is expected to take 18 months. Potential future use of the property will be evaluated.
Read: Crews monitoring Pinova plant after large fire, investigation into origin begins
“This is a difficult decision, considering all our talented employees and the long history of the site in Brunswick, but one made after careful review. We are committed to treating employees with respect and fairness and to close the site in line with our values. Pinova appreciates the value that employees have brought to the company,” Ron Kurtz, Director of Operations, said in the release.
Read: Pinova plant fire extinguished, shelter-in-place and evacuation orders lifted
Pinova said it will provide severance, career counseling, and support transitioning to future employment for employees. Pinova is committed to working with its valued clients to look for internal and other alternatives, as available.
Before the fire, the site was manufacturing rosin and polyterpene resins used in various industries, including food production and some adhesive products.
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