Tyco Electronics is closing its plant in Wallburg and moving employees to its plant in Greensboro, a spokesman for the company said yesterday.
"The sharp downturn in our business the last six to eight months is causing the need to right-size our business globally," said Mike Ratcliff, the company's communication manager.
Tyco, based in Berwyn, Pa., makes electronics and telecommunications components. It has about 3,000 employees in North Carolina. It has been shedding jobs worldwide for several months.
Company officials notified Wallburg officials last week that it would close the plant on Gumtree Road.
"Wallburg losing its largest employer will hurt us," Councilman Gary Craver said. "It will hurt Davidson County and North Carolina by losing the tax base. I'm saddened to hear about it.
Tyco, which has been operating in Wallburg since the mid-1970s, has been a great corporate citizen, Wallburg officials said.
"I just hate it," Councilman Steve Yokeley said. "Tyco has been a real positive thing in the community since they have been here. We will miss that also. They have been active and helped Wallburg (Elementary School) out since they have been here."
Ratcliff declined to say how many people work at the Wallburg plant, but town officials estimate that the plant has about 400 employees. Ratcliff said that the "vast majority" of the employees in Wallburg will be moved to the Greensboro plant on Triad Drive. He declined to say how many people will move to the Greensboro plant and how many will be laid off.
The consolidation should be complete by October, and laid-off employees will be entitled to severance pay, benefits continuation and out-placement benefits, Ratcliff said.
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