Steel pipe manufacturer Wheatland Tube is closing its plant on the south side of Chicago and laying off more than 230 employees.
According to the Chicago Tribune, the layoffs will begin on November 1 and continue throughout next year. Wheatland did not provide an anticipated date for the factory’s closure.
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The company, which is a subsidiary of the nearly 150-year-old Zekelman Industries, is headquartered in both Illinois and Wheatland, Pennsylvania, and operates additional plants in Ohio, Alabama and Missouri. In a statement obtained by the Chicago Tribune, Wheatland said it has no plans to shutter any of its other factories.
Zekelman, which calls itself the largest independent steel tube and pipe manufacturer in North America, told the publication it blames the plant’s closure in part on a large influx of steel imported from Mexico. The company also accused the U.S. of not enforcing a higher 25% tax rate on Mexican steel imports.
The factory workers impacted by the Chicago plant’s closure may be able to transfer to other Zekelman factories. Jennifer Murphy, vice president of human resources at Zekelman, told the publication that her company would offer “broad transition support” including severance and outplacement services for any employees who won’t be transferring.
Wheatland Tube traces its beginnings back to 1877 when John Maneely, founder of its parent company, began selling pipe, valves and fittings in Philadelphia. The company officially began manufacturing pipe in 1931 and has since expanded its product portfolio to include couplings, conduit and fence tubing.
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Steel pipe manufacturer, Wheatland tube is
closing its plant on the south side of Chicago
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and laying off more than 230 employees.
According to the Chicago Tribune,
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the layoffs will begin on November 1st and
continue throughout next year.
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Wheatland did not provide an anticipated date
for the factory's closure.
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The company which is a subsidiary of the nearly
150 year old Zelman industries is headquartered
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in both Illinois and Wheatland, Pennsylvania
and operates additional plants in Ohio,
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Alabama and Missouri.
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In a statement of by the Chicago Tribune,
Wheatland said it has no plans to shutter any
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of its other factories.
Zuckerman which calls itself the largest
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independent steel tube and pipe manufacturer in
North America told the publication,
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it blames the plant's closure.
In part on a large influx of steel imported
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from Mexico.
The company also accused the us of not
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enforcing a higher 25% tax rate on Mexican
steel imports.
00:57.279 --> 01:01.880
The factory workers impacted by the Chicago
plant's closure may be able to transfer to
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other Zuckerman factories.
Jennifer Murphy Vice President of human
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resources at Zelman told the publication that
her company would offer quote broad transition
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support including severance and outplacement
services for any employees who won't be
01:16.470 --> 01:22.169
transferring Wheatland tube traces its
beginnings back to 1877 when John Manly,
01:22.180 --> 01:27.190
founder of its parent company began selling
pipe valves and fittings in Philadelphia.
01:27.550 --> 01:33.440
The company officially began manufacturing pipe
in 1931 and has since expanded its product
01:33.449 --> 01:37.489
portfolio to include couplings, conduit and
fence tubing.
01:37.699 --> 01:39.970
I'm Ben Munson and this is manufacturing now.
