AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT ADVANCED PRESSURE TECHNOLOGY

Napa, California-based Advanced Pressure Technology, a manufacturer of gas handling components, including flow devices, pressure regulators, and valves, has announced a permanent plant closure in Napa, California.

The closure will affect 237 employees, with layoffs to be completed by December 1, 2025.

According to the company, “AP Tech has had a significant slowdown in demand from key customers. One of the largest customers in China has accumulated 12 months of excess inventory and is actively canceling orders as well as exploring alternative suppliers. A significant portion of AP Tech’s customer base is outside of the U.S., where tariffs and shifting global trade policies continue to impact pricing and order volumes. Our proactive efforts to preserve jobs have not been enough. We have tried eliminating overtime, reallocating resources to try and stabilize operations, and an earlier mass layoff in July 2025.”

"Despite extensive efforts to streamline operations, the cost of maintaining the facility in California has remained higher than can be supported. The work being done in the Bay Area is being shifted to Indiana, where our parent company, SMC Corp., maintains its primary operations.

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, nor promises of 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, at any time, 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?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT ACRISURE

Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Acrisure, a financial technology and insurance company, has announced the continuation of its technology transformation with artificial intelligence.

The transformation will impact 400 accounting employees, including 200 in West Michigan, in the first quarter of 2026.

According to CEO Greg Williams, "The layoffs are the result of artificial-intelligence technology deployed by Acrisure, which will automate a significant portion of the work performed by the affected employees. The last five years have been about innovating and deploying technology anywhere and everywhere that we can."

"This was not an easy decision, as it affects colleagues who have given so much to our company and our community. You kind of knew this day was coming at some point as you’re doing these investments and leaning into innovation, automation. But it doesn’t make it any less painful … Our colleagues have been tremendous. They’re not only great teammates, but they’ve been a carrier of a culture and a strategy in a company that they’ve helped build.”

“This isn’t anything about pressure or pain point in the bottom line. This is about remaining competitive in a very competitive world and meeting clients where they want to be met and deploying capital where we need to deploy it in order to make all that happen.”

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, nor promises of 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, at any time, 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?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT SOLERO TECHNOLOGIES

Rochester Hills, Michigan-based Solero Technologies, an automotive components supplier that designs and manufactures solenoid valves and actuator solutions, has announced the closure of its Shelby, North Carolina, plant by the end of 2026.

The interim reduction in force will impact 102 employees between November 28, 2025, and March 31, 2026.

According to a company spokesperson, “The WARN notice filed on September 29 by Solero for its facility in Shelby, North Carolina, is related to a decision the company made following its acquisition of Netherlands-based Kendrion’s automotive business last October. That acquisition included the Kendrion Automotive facility in Shelby, North Carolina, that currently employs 102 workers. All of the workers at the plant, along with key community stakeholders, were informed last year about the company’s plans to eventually close the facility. At the time, we communicated the need to restructure Shelby’s operations and integrate them into Solero’s existing manufacturing footprint over the next 18 to 24 months. That decision was necessary to align with the evolving needs of Solero in a very competitive market and best position our company for future growth."

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, nor promises of 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, at any time, 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?