Greatbatch, blaming a slumping orthopedics market and downward pricing pressure from customers, proposes to lay off 90% of its workers at 2 plants in Switzerland, aiming to relocate most of the operations to Indiana and Mexico.
Greatbatch (NYSE:GB) said it wants to largely shutter a pair of plants in Switzerland and relocate their operations to Ft. Wayne, Ind., and Tijuana, Mexico.
The Clarence, N.Y.-based company said the slumping orthopedics market and downward pricing pressures are precipitating the move, which is expected to affect 90% of the 196 workers at the plants in Orvin and Corgemont, Switzerland – or about 176 employees.
Under Swiss law, Greatbatch must provide a comment period for employees before putting the plan in motion. The Swiss workers have until July 20 to give their input; the company is hoping to execute the move by the end of 2013.