The company says about 160 jobs will be cut in the transition from its Canton Township site to Villagran, Mexico.

Ferro Corp. will close its manufacturing plant in Canton Township, Washington County, and move production to a more modern facility in Villagran, Mexico, the company confirmed Friday.About 160 jobs will be cut, with approximately 50 employees offered positions elsewhere or work-at-home opportunities, Ferro said in a written statement.The Mexico transition will start in the first quarter of the year and continue through late 2019, or possibly into early 2020, Ferro said.Based in Mayfield Heights, Ohio, the company provides functional coatings and color solutions.The Washington County facility was built in 1869 and has become too costly to maintain, despite investments made over the years, according to Ferro's statement.The plant "requires high capital spending due to aged infrastructure and equipment, manufacturing is hampered by the site's layout, and the cost structure is extraordinarily high, including because of high energy consumption and repair and maintenance costs," Ferro said."The high cost of production impacts sales, profitability and market share and is not sustainable. Villagran offers a modern, comprehensive, efficient facility for a more sustainable future."Production from Canton and "multiple Latin American sites" will be consolidated at Villagran, with some of the production from Washington County also being shifted to an expanded site in King of Prussia, Pa., the company said.Ferro also noted that it will expand operations at a facility in Norcross, Georgia, and invest in several other U.S. sites, including Cleveland; Edison, N.J.; and Penn Yan, N.Y.

Ferro Corp. will close its manufacturing plant in Canton Township, Washington County, and move production to a more modern facility in Villagran, Mexico, the company confirmed Friday.

About 160 jobs will be cut, with approximately 50 employees offered positions elsewhere or work-at-home opportunities, Ferro said in a written statement.


The Mexico transition will start in the first quarter of the year and continue through late 2019, or possibly into early 2020, Ferro said.

Based in Mayfield Heights, Ohio, the company provides functional coatings and color solutions.

The Washington County facility was built in 1869 and has become too costly to maintain, despite investments made over the years, according to Ferro's statement.



The plant "requires high capital spending due to aged infrastructure and equipment, manufacturing is hampered by the site's layout, and the cost structure is extraordinarily high, including because of high energy consumption and repair and maintenance costs," Ferro said.



"The high cost of production impacts sales, profitability and market share and is not sustainable. Villagran offers a modern, comprehensive, efficient facility for a more sustainable future."

Production from Canton and "multiple Latin American sites" will be consolidated at Villagran, with some of the production from Washington County also being shifted to an expanded site in King of Prussia, Pa., the company said.

Ferro also noted that it will expand operations at a facility in Norcross, Georgia, and invest in several other U.S. sites, including Cleveland; Edison, N.J.; and Penn Yan, N.Y.