MAY 21, 2022 — SHUTTING DOWN FOR THE SUMMER “HIBERNATION”
Siemens Gamesa has announced that its blade manufacturing plant in Fort Madison, Kansas, and its nacelle manufacturing plant in Hutchinson, Kansas will be shutting down in July 2022 and laying off most employees as the company awaits new wind turbine orders,
According to a company spokesperson, “Employees at both facilities — 171 in Fort Madison and 92 in Hutchinson — will be released from employment during the hibernation. All affected employees will be provided with a comprehensive separation package, which includes severance pay, benefits continuation, career counseling, resume preparation, and job placement assistance.”
FEBRUARY 10, 2022 — 190 LAYOFFS PLANNED IN IOWA AND KANSAS
Citing a reduction in the commercial wind turbine business, the company announced that it plans to lay off 69 employees in Hutchinson, Kansas, and 121 employees in Fort Madison, Iowa.
Additional factors include a halt in production during deliberations by the International Trade Commission on a patent infringement suit against the company and a delay in orders in anticipation of new climate change legislation from the U.S. Congress.
FEBRUARY 04, 2022 — DANGER AHEAD FOR EMPLOYEES: PROFIT SHORTFALL, CEO REPLACED
The company has announced that it “has appointed Jochen Eickholt, a member of the executive board at Siemens Energy as its Chief Executive Officer. Eickholt will take the reins at Siemens Gamesa on March 1, replacing Andreas Nauen.
“Siemens Gamesa is experiencing significant challenges in its Onshore business in a very difficult market and we have appointed an executive with a strong track record in managing complex operational situations and in successfully turning around underperforming businesses.”
The decision was driven by profit shortfalls related to pandemic-era supply-chain disruptions.
As we have seen before, cost-cutting initiatives and reduced headcounts normally follow the replacement of the top executive as he proves to his Board and Wall Street he is the individual for the job and worthy of bonuses.
SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 — 130 WORKERS IN FORT MADISON, IOWA
After a decision to discontinue their shorter wind turbine blades, the company has announced that it will be laying off 130 workers at it Gamesea facility in Fort Madison, Iowa.
A company spokesperson noted, “We do not take this decision lightly, but we must adapt to the demands of the market and meet our customer’s needs in a changing environment.
Original post…
Regardless of what you may have heard about the explosion of jobs afforded by the new “green” economy, it has little or no bearing on matching business, capacity, and personnel on an individual basis. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Siemens, a major manufacturer of wind turbines will be laying off 195 employees from its 600,000 square foot Siemens Wind Turbine Blade Manufacturing facility located in Fort Madison, Iowa. According to a spokesperson for Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, “short-term business volume at this location doesn't support the existing workforce level.” The facility will not be shuttered and will be operating at a reduced capacity with an estimated 400 workers. Implicit in the understanding of the layoff situation is that laid-off workers will be eligible for rehire should business fortunes improve in the next few years.
"Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy informed employees today about efforts to position the Fort Madison plant for future competitiveness. Business volume at this location through the 2018 fiscal year does not support the existing workforce level. While we remain strongly committed to the long-term viability of the U.S. wind market, a difficult decision has been made to adjust the Fort Madison workforce by about 195 employees. As a reflection of the importance of Fort Madison to our business strategy moving forward, we are making a significant capital investment at the plant to install additional blade molds for new wind turbine models. The company opened this location in 2006."
The world of energy has its ups and downs. In November 2017, Siemens announced it will lay off 6,900 workers worldwide — including 1,800 in the United States including at its Charlotte, North Carolina Energy Hub.
And on January 25, 2018, the President of Siemens and other industry leaders met with President Trump in Davos, Switzerland where the CEO of Siemens, Joe Kaeser, said "Congratulations on your tax reform. Because you were so successful with the tax reform, we decided to develop the next generation of gas turbines in the United States." When President Trump asked which state, Kaeser replied, "Charlotte, Tennessee."
Of course, he was exaggerating somewhat as the decision to test the turbines in the United States was announced prior to the passage of the tax reform legislation -- and gas turbines that were previously engineered and developed in Germany will ONLY be tested ("validated") at the Charlotte facility
Are you asking yourself, Am I Next?