Southfield, Michigan-based Grede, a metals processor that designs, engineers, and manufactures iron castings, has announced the cessation of foundry operations in Alabama. The company will begin transferring manufacturing work from its foundry in Brewton, Alabama to locations in other states by mid-year.
The Brewton, Alabama, foundry closure will impact 220 employees, including 130 hourly employees, 30 salaried employees, and 60 third-party contractors. Layoffs will begin on May 22, 2025.
The facility will stay open once manufacturing work stops, and the company is considering using it for other purposes, like warehousing or research and development.
According to a spokesperson, “Grede’s primary served markets have not rebounded to pre-COVID volumes, resulting in an availability of capacity across some of Grede’s US foundries. We are transferring work across our network of facilities to maximize utilization of assets and reduce inefficiencies.”
Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something terrible hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. While many employees can read the writing on the wall, why do most assume it’s targeted at someone else? Are you now wondering, Am I Next?
