Processing Your Payment

Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.

March 19, 2014

UTC to close Pittsfield plant, move 300 jobs

The Farmington, Conn.-based United Technologies Corp. Fire and Security plans to close its Pittsfield plant in March 2015, a move that will displace 300 workers.

One hundred of those workers will have opportunities to relocate to North Carolina, the Morning Sentinel reported. It is Pittsfield’s second-largest employer after Cianbro, which employs 360 people.

The company said in a statement it decided to close the plant to “ensure continued competitiveness.” A company spokeswoman told the newspaper work done in Pittsfield will be moved to plants outside Maine to Lincolnton, N.C., Mexico and China.

Town Manager Kathryn Ruth said the closure could have a regional economic impact as around 25% of the plant’s workers are from Pittsfield, while surrounding communities ranging from Waterville to Bangor comprise the rest. The company said it will hold meetings with employees in the coming months to review options, open positions at other facilities and severance benefits.

The company’s Pittsfield plant manufactures fire and security products like smoke detectors, fire panels and signaling equipment for its Edwards Systems Technology brand, which it purchased from General Electric Co. in 2010. Until 2005, the plant was owned by SPX Corp.

Read more

Pittsfield manufacturer prepares for shutdown

Sign up for Enews

Comments

Order a PDF