Kaiser Aluminum Corporation, an American aluminium producer, has reportedly confirmed the permanent closing of its Sherman facility this summer. The news followed a statement from Kaiser Aluminum representative Anne McGuinness that stated the decision was due to business challenges at the Sherman location.
About two years ago, Kaiser Aluminum faced a mishap at Sherman plant for a furnace explosion causing a fire outbreak. Following the accident, Kaiser Aluminium had to prepare for a production cut.
McGuinness commented, “Any impacted customers have been or are in the process of being relocated to other Kaiser facilities to continue serving them in line with Kaiser’s corporate value to be a preferred supplier.”
Currently, the facility’s 75 employees are working on termination benefits and will continue until its operation is stopped permanently by June 30. However, the long-term plan for the 194,000-square-foot facility has not been decided.
City of Sherman Spokesperson Nate Strauch said Kaiser Aluminum was an integral part of the industrial landscape in Sherman for many decades.
Strauch said, “It is a little bit sad, even more sad than usual because of the longevity that they’ve had in our community. Hundreds of people over those decades have worked for them who’ve made their homes here in Sherman.”
Texoma Workforce Solutions Executive Director Janie Bates is hopeful that Kaiser’s Sherman facility’s employees will find other jobs in the city of Texas. According to her, Kaiser’s employees have valuable skills that would help them get jobs in other technology plants in Sherman, including Texas Instruments and Global Wafers.
Texoma Workforce Solutions is planning to host a job fair at Kaiser before it ends production.
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