AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT DRAWFORM

Glenview, Illinois-based ITW Drawform, a division of Illinois Tool Works and a manufacturer of precision deep-drawn stampings, metal stampings, ferrules, and eyelets, has abruptly shuttered its Holland, Michigan manufacturing facility.

The closure will impact 171 employees.

According to a company spokesperson, “Due to a decision by a Drawform customer to shift their business to an alternative supplier, we were disappointed and saddened to have to eliminate the roles of approximately 170 Drawform associates that supported this program at our Holland, Michigan, facility. We express our deepest gratitude to all of our associates impacted by this decision and we are committed to supporting them through this transition.”

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 bad 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. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT NEENAH FOUNDRY

SEPTEMBER 10, 2025 — 103 EMPLOYEES IN LINCOLN, NEBRASKA

The company has announced the closure of its Lincoln, Nebraska, foundry by December 31, 2025, and will reopen the property as a distribution center on January 1, 2026.

The closure will impact 103 employees.

According to a company spokesperson, "While significant investments have been made in Lincoln over the past three years, changes in market conditions have resulted in excess manufacturing capacity. This includes low-cost imports from India that account for a meaningful percentage of the domestic market.”

“The decision to close came after an extensive review of Neenah Foundry Company’s production facilities and the outlook of the municipal castings market. We credit the success of the Lincoln plant to the dedication of our team of over 100 people, many of whom have been with us for decades. We are grateful for their dedicated service to our company and our customers.”

AUGUST 10, 2022 — Original post…

Neenah, Wisconsin-based Neenah Foundry, a manufacturer of cast iron manhole covers, gratings, and similar cast items for a variety of industries and municipalities, has announced a reduction in headcount,''

The decision to reduce the company's headcount will affect 115 employees, including 7 corporate staff members, 4 production supervisors, and 104 unionized production workers. Separations are scheduled for September 27, 2022.

The decision was driven by a "previously announced divestiture of certain heavy truck part sales and manufacturing by the company."

"Neenah Enterprises announced it has completed the sale of NEI’s Advanced Cast Products business in Meadville, Pennsylvania, and the heavy truck business of Neenah Foundry to Southfield, Michigan-based Grede, a leading manufacturer of cast, machined, and assembled components for transportation and industrial markets.

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. Just because something bad 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. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT CENTURY ALUMINUM

Chicago, Illinois-based Century Aluminum Company, a producer of primary aluminum, including standard grade and value-added primary aluminum products, has announced that the company will curtail its Hawesville, Kentucky smelter operations for 9-12 months.

The curtailment will impact 628 employees with layoffs scheduled between August 5, 2022, and August 12, 2022. Employees will "prepare the facility for a restart when energy prices stabilize."

"Century is one of just a handful of aluminum smelters left in the United States and the only high-purity smelter in the world. Hawesville is Century’s largest U.S. smelter and is the largest producer of high-purity primary aluminum in North America. Four of Hawesville’s five potlines are capable of producing high-purity aluminum, which supports the United States’ national security efforts and is used in defense applications such as the F16, Airbus, Naval war vessels, 747 airplanes and the International Space Station."

"In order to continue to operate its smelter located in Hawesville, Kentucky, Century Aluminum of Kentucky GP must be able to purchase reliable, affordable electric power. Unfortunately, an unprecedented rise in global energy prices arising from the Russian war in Ukraine has dramatically increased the price of energy in the U.S. and around the globe. The cost required to run our Hawesville, KY, facility has more than tripled the historical average in a very short period. Given these circumstances it is necessary to fully curtail operations for a period of approximately nine to twelve months at Hawesville until energy prices return to more normalized levels. This is expected to result in the layoff of 628 Hawesville Smelter employees."

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. Just because something bad 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. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?