The Niles location of Phillips Manufacturing has permanently closed its doors, leaving workers jobless as company officials cite financial difficulties as the reason for the shutdown.
According to a union representative, employees received an early morning text message on Wednesday directing them to attend an 11 a.m. meeting where they were informed of the plant’s immediate closure. The company confirmed the closure late Thursday morning, stating the money was simply not there to continue operations.
Phillips Manufacturing, which has been producing drywall corner beads, metal lath, and other building materials since 1955, had maintained its Niles facility at 504 Walnut Street as one of several locations across the country.
The closure comes as a significant blow to the local manufacturing sector in Trumbull County, where industrial jobs have steadily declined over recent decades. The Niles facility was known to employ union workers who produced metal lath, drywall furring, and non-structural metal framing products.
Company officials have not yet released details about the total number of jobs lost or whether employees will receive severance packages. It remains unclear if operations will be consolidated at Phillips’ other manufacturing facilities in Omaha, Tampa, and Umatilla.
The sudden shutdown follows a pattern of manufacturing challenges in northeast Ohio, where communities continue to struggle with industrial job losses. Local officials have not yet commented on potential assistance programs for displaced workers.
Phillips Manufacturing continues to maintain its headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska, along with distribution and manufacturing operations in several other states.
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