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Auto parts maker Tenneco announced that it
would cease operations and permanently close a
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55 year old plant in Per Gold, Arkansas.
Local television station K8 News reported.
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The company informed the facility’s workers of
their impending layoffs on January 14th.
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Online news source NEAreport.com obtained a
letter to the employees that said the company
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will conduct the closure and permanent layoffs
in three phases around March 31st,
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April 15th, and April 30th, with no bumming
rights currently in place.
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Tenantco did not disclose how many workers
would.
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Lose their jobs, but an article from the Per
Gold Regional Chamber of Commerce reported that
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the factory featured more than 1100 employees
in 2022.
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The article also stated that the facility, part
of Tenneco’s Drive motor parts aftermarket
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division, annually assembled over 13 million
shocks and struts and produced 2.4 million
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modular assemblies per year.
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Tenneco explained in its letter to employees
that the Perol Drive plant has faced financial
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difficulties and has been unable to maintain
market competitiveness for several years.
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The company Also stated that it needs to
realign its manufacturing footprint to respond
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to changing market conditions, which includes
resizing operations to reflect the current and
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expected market demand.
A Perold Daily Press article from 1983 reported
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that Monroe Auto Equipment originally opened
the Pergoold factory for shock absorber
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production in 1970.
The company added 24,000 square feet in 1972 to
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incorporate sintered metal parts production.
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After acquiring Monroe in 1977, Tenneco
eventually.
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Expanded the site to occupy 450,000 square feet
and become the second largest facility in its
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portfolio, according to Monroe Heavy duty.com.
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K8 News reported that the chamber plans to
connect the affected employees with nearby job
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opportunities.
Chamber Economic Development director Alison
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Heistan noted multiple companies, including
Anchor Packaging and transportation
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manufacturer Greenbrier, had already made
contact.
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Heistan added that the factory’s future remains
uncertain.
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I’m Nolan Balstein.
This is manufacturing now.