A Grand Haven plastic injection molding manufacturer plans to cease operations next week and lay off more than 130 workers as a result of what executives call “financial difficulties” stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.
West Michigan Molding Inc. plans to close its plant at 1425 Aerial View Drive in Grand Haven on July 28, company officials confirmed with Crain’s Grand Rapids Business . The layoffs were cited in a recent filing with the state under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act. Mold Cavity And Core
Executives noted increased costs of doing business on the heels of the pandemic, as well as unsuccessful attempts this year to secure a buyer or additional capital. The 40-year-old company in recent weeks notified employees and customers that it was entering an “orderly liquidation.”
“The past several years have been incredibly difficult for small- to medium-sized manufacturers including West Michigan Molding,” company President Dale Hermiller said in an emailed statement. “This is an incredibly difficult time and we are working with our employees and our customers to make a smooth transition.”
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West Michigan Molding employs 134 people, approximately 109 of whom are in hourly positions, per the WARN notice.
The company has created severance packages for all of its employees and will be hosting a job fair in collaboration with Michigan Works! and other local businesses to help the employees identify new job opportunities.
West Michigan Molding also is working with its customers on transition strategies.
The company was founded in 1983 as Grand Haven Plastics. In 1989, the company relocated to its current 186,000-square-foot facility at Aerial View Drive after outgrowing its existing space, according to the company’s website. The business name was changed to West Michigan Molding Inc. in 2012.
Recently, West Michigan Molding has operated as a modern custom injection molder and finisher for various industries, including automotive, health care, construction, consumer goods and electronics. Molding capabilities range from 33-ton to 1,800-ton plastic injection molding machines.
Hermiller also serves as president of Walker-based HS Inc., which restructured earlier this year to shift focus away from its tool and die origins to automation. The strategic move involved 58 layoffs, or nearly a quarter of the company’s staff at the time.
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Crain's Grand Rapids Business launched in 2023, bringing together MiBiz, the Grand Rapids Business Journal and Crain Communications to create the top source of business news, analysis and information in West Michigan.
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