Dive Brief:
- Building materials manufacturer Associated Materials is shuttering its Fife, Washington, plant, the company disclosed in a Jan. 13 Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification notice.
- The closure will impact 150 jobs, according to the notice, with layoffs beginning Jan. 13. The plant was one of 11 manufacturing sites operated by Associated Materials across the U.S. and Canada.
- The move comes amid a broader corporate overhaul at the manufacturer, including splitting the company into three distinct businesses under the Associated Materials umbrella, focused on manufacturing, supply and distribution, with a combined revenue of $1.7 billion.
Dive Insight:
The Ohio-based manufacturer primarily produces vinyl windows, vinyl and composite siding and metal building products for both the commercial and residential markets.
As part of the restructuring, former COO Frank Natoli was named CEO of Associated Materials Innovations, the company's manufacturing arm.
"Recent investments and operational improvements have given us the ability to expand our customer base to new distributors, grow our market share and provide customers with a greater breadth of products," Natoli said in a Jan. 15 statement about the changes.
Associated Materials' recent funding plans include a $100 million investment announced last year, focused on advancing the company's employees, equipment and technology.
The manufacturer, however, has also undergone consolidation in recent years, following its acquisition by investment firm SVP Global in March 2022.
In March 2024, it laid off 184 workers at its Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, factory as part of a restructuring meant to concentrate production in areas "strategically aligned to growth opportunities in the market and where it can continue to service existing customers," according to the company's WARN notice to the state.
Now, the company is putting a premium on expanding its supply chain operations, including with its new supplier business segment Alside, as well as increased distribtuion capacity. The supplier business will add more products and brands to its portfolio, according to the company's January announcement.
"Alside is taking our product offerings to the next level, delivering an even wider range of solutions, technology and more personalized support through a focused sales team to meet our customers' needs,” said Dan Watkoske, the incoming CEO of Alside. “This shift opens exciting opportunities for both our customers and our business to enhance our competitive advantage and grow together.”
