JR Automation has confirmed to MoodyOnTheMarket.com that the Stevensville plant at 7275 Red Arrow Highway is closing. 38 workers will be affected by the shutdown, which the company attributed to “efficiency”. JR explained that the work performed here can be done at one or more of JR’s ten other locations in Michigan.
Spokesperson Christine Powers said most of the Stevensville positions are in production, “on the plant floor” as she put it. A few are office or administrative jobs. Powers said specifically that all of the Stevensville employees are being offered positions with JR at other locations, and that potentially some may be able to work remotely or take on ‘hybrid’ positions: a mix of remote and on-site at another JR location. The closest JR facility is the expanding Holland location, where a new world headquarters for JR Automation is under construction. Holland is about a one hour drive from Stevensville.
Powers said current projects underway at Stevensville will be completed there, so layoff dates will be staggered between now and August, when the shutdown is expected to be complete. She emphasized that JR Automation sincerely hopes all workers will find a new position with the company “that works for them”, and that managers will work with employees individually to explore the opportunities that are available at other JR locations.
JR Automation has been owned by the global industrial firm Hitachi since 2019. The Stevensville plant began as Dane Systems and evolved through several ownerships. JR creates and builds high tech customized automation and robotic systems for a wide range of industries worldwide.
MoodyOnTheMarket.com first reported the planned JR shutdown in Stevensville overnight Friday-Saturday, based on information from business community sources. We were able to confirm it with the company today.
