After nearly 30 years in business, Charlevoix Manufacturing Company is closing its doors.
The <link _top>aluminum foundry machine shop — which specializes in the production of aluminum <link _top>castings needed for various industries including automotive, heavy truck, robotics and decorative — will cease its operations within the next two months.
Jim Hater, president of Charlevoix Manufacturing Company, points to a slumping automotive market and outsourcing as the reasoning behind their downfall.
“We’ve watched about 70 percent of our business be taken off-shore; basically to China, India and some to Indonesia,” Hater said. “The flood of American jobs being taken away really disturbs me.”
Hater said nearly three years ago, when business was good, the company employed 85 people.
Now, after two years of gradual cutbacks, the company’s remaining 17 employees will be out of a job.
“We tried hard to diversify our product line and we had some success, but I guess just not enough,” Hater said. “We are all deeply saddened by the whole thing — we just hate to lose them.”
Hater said his employees will be forced to start over.
“There is no real severance (package),” he said. “Between unemployment and Michigan Works, there’s many opportunities out there, hopefully (our employees) can take advantage of all of them.”
Charlevoix City Manager Rob Straebel said this closing will have a profound impact on the Charlevoix community.
“It’s certainly another devastating blow, not only to the city, but to the northern Michigan region,” he said. “We’re not unique to this, it’s been happening all across the nation: The overall manufacturing sector has taken a hit with outsourcing overseas."
Straebel added, “Certainly our sympathies go out to the employees and families of (Charlevoix Manufacturing Co.) and we will do everything we can to get these people back to work.”
Hater said the fate of the 20,000 square-feet manufacturing building is unknown.
