CLEAR LAKE, Wis. (WFRV) – An international farm machinery and equipment manufacturer has announced that it will be permanently closing one of its facilities in western Wisconsin, resulting in 68 employees being laid off.
According to a Worker Adjustment and Retention Notification (WARN) letter submitted to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Oxbo International Corporation is closing its Polk County manufacturing facility on Bean Street in the Village of Clear Lake.
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The corporation’s letter notes that “after years of extensive study and careful consideration,” it has made the “difficult decision to close its Clear Lake facility.” The decision aims to consolidate all of its production activities to a new facility in Bergen, New York.
The closure will lead to the termination of 68 employees, and officials stated in the letter that the impact on its employees made the decision difficult.
A key driver of the consolidation strategy and of the investment in one new, modern, highly efficient plant was to reduce the risks from significant year-to-year market fluctuation. Choosing this strategy was difficult because of the impact on employees. But it was the strategy that will position Oxbo to continue to be the world leader in providing specialty crops harvesting solutions well into the future.
Oxbo International Corporation
The initial terminations will reportedly begin on or around June 6 and continue through roughly June 27.
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“Oxbo has established a plan to provide employees with further information regarding their employee benefits and other information to assist them during this difficult time,” the letter reads.
No additional information was provided.
