Danfoss to close Chambersburg plant, 70 jobs affected

(Chambersburg) — Danfoss has announced plans to close its Chambersburg plant in Franklin County.

About 70 employees will be affected by the closing, which is planned for December 2018.

The plant makes variable frequency drives to control electric motors in climate control and industrial applications.

The company said its decision to close the plant is based on its need to achieve economies of scale in production, to optimize its footprint in North America and to better serve customers.

Production will be consolidated with the company’s existing factories in Loves Park, Illinois, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin — both of which have the additional capacity necessary to support the current production volume of the Chambersburg site.

“We are working with our employees to provide the best possible outplacement support. Including trying to accommodate those who are willing to relocate to Wisconsin or Illinois,” said Rick Pena, Danfoss Drives’ senior director of operations.

The release quoted Pena as saying, “The decision is in no way a reflection of the efforts and commitment of our valued Chambersburg workforce. Quite the contrary, our Chambersburg-based employees have demonstrated a tremendous work ethic and high performance. Instead, the decision is based on the fact that the Loves Park and Milwaukee sites have the capacity to produce the demand for all of North America, to create a strong foundation for growth, and to further improve customer support.”

Danfoss acquired the Chambersburg site in 2014 as part its merger with Finland-based Vacon. Denmark-based Danfoss has 18 sites in North America.

Vacon had acquired the drive business from Chambersburg-based TB Woods and opened the state-of-the-art manufacturing center on Nitterhouse Drive in 2009.

This story comes to us through a partnership between WITF and The Chambersburg Public Opinion.