Werner lays off 80 workers at Sugar Grove Twp. plant

THE VINDICATOR, YOUNGSTOWNGREENVILLE, Pa. -- The Werner Co. has laid off 80 production workers at its Sugar Grove Township manufacturing plant.
The cutbacks were effective Monday and now total 120 at the plant. The company had earlier laid off 20 salaried employees in May and 20 more in June of this year.
The company has 882 employees in its Greenville Division, exclusive of an additional 220 employed at its corporate office here.
John Guyton, human resources director, said the layoffs were needed to bring the company's production capability in line with product demand.
Werner, a family-owned business until controlling interest was sold to Investcorp, an international investment group, in 1997, manufactures ladders and other climbing equipment as well as aluminum extrusions and fabricated components for the automotive industry.
Guyton said a downturn in the economy has lessened demand for Werner products.
He could not rule out future job cuts for the company.