Matrix Metals LLC will lay off 160 workers from its Richmond Foundry in Texas and will close the plant, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) notice filed with the Texas Workforce Commission.
Matrix Metals is a division of The Sanmar Group, and operates three steel foundries in North America: Keokuk Steel Castings in Keokuk, IA; Matrix Metals, in Richmond, TX; and Acerlan S.A, in San Juan del Rio, Mexico. The group supplies ferrous castings to manufacturers of flow-control equipment, locomotives and transit vehicles, military vehicle, construction equipment, track systems, and oilfield equipment.
Matrix Metals’ other U.S. businesses — Keokuk Steel Castings and Nepco International, a distribution company in Richmond, TX — are not affected by the decision regarding the Texas foundry.
A representative of the company explains that decision to close the plant is not final, and the future of the operation will be based upon orders from the plant’s primary customer.
“The WARN notice was issued to inform the workforce of current conditions, and if they did not change then permanent closure was indeed the strongest possibility,” according to the Matrix Metals representative. “Operations, whether permanent or temporary will discontinue on or about July 7.”