Siemens Gamesa to cut 140 jobs at Kansas plant

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy SA (BME:SGRE) will cut 140 jobs at its plant in Hutchinson, Kansas, it was announced on Friday.

The wind turbine maker is reducing staff at the nacelle plant as business volume at the site through the 2018 fiscal year does not support the current number of jobs, it said in a statement cited by local media.

The facility, which opened in 2010 and now employs 330 people, will have about 190 workers after the layoffs, the Hutchinson News reported, citing a company spokesperson. The workforce reduction will be carried out in the autumn.

Hutchinson Mayor Jon Daveline told local TV station KWCH it is understood that reduction in force is temporary.

In the statement, Siemens Gamesa said it remains committed to the long-term viability of the US wind market and added that as a reflection of the importance of Hutchinson to its business strategy it announced plans for an investment at the plant that involves retooling an existing production line. The company employs more than 2,000 people in its wind and wind service businesses in the US.

The news came on the same day it was reported that Siemens Gamesa intends to cut 600 jobs at its Aalborg blade factory in Denmark in an effort to remain competitive. The wind company also recently unveiled plans to close by early 2018 its manufacturing plant in Tillsonburg, in the Canadian province of Ontario.

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