BREAKING: Springboro manufacturer plans to close plant, affecting 65 workers

Robert Bosch GmbH will close its Springboro plant by summer, a plan that will impact 65 workers, the manufacturer said Thursday.

"Since 2012 Robert Bosch Battery Systems has experienced a downturn in business, resulting in unused capacity at its Springboro, Ohio manufacturing facility," the company said in a statement sent to the Dayton Daily News in response to questions. "Yesterday, Robert Bosch Battery Systems announced it will close its Springboro location by July 2019.

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"The decision to close the site was taken only after extensive investigation into other options," the company added. "The facility will wind-down in stages to properly support customer orders. The company is in parallel pursuing an agreement to sell the facility."

The company has about 65 employees in Springboro. They will have the "opportunity to apply for open positions in the Bosch organization. In the event that a qualified position is not available, those associates will receive a severance package," Bosch also said in its release.

Bosch Battery Systems assembles lithium-ion battery packs for automobiles.

Initially Thursday, a Bosch government relations manager confirmed to the Dayton Daily News that she had contacted state and regional elected officials regarding plans to lay off 65 workers. She referred further questions to a colleague.

Emails between the governor’s office and regional jobs offices obtained by this news outlet outlined the company’s plans.

However, at about 1:30 p.m. Thursday, no new WARN (Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notice Act) letter from Bosch was shown on the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services web site.

There has been a history of layoffs at that site.

In May 2017, Bosch Battery Systems said it intended to lay off 88 workers due to a “significant downturn in business.”

The company also laid off about 74 workers in 2015.

The automotive battery plant is at 50 Ovonic Way, a cul-de-sac off North Pioneer Boulevard in Springboro.

Originally known as GM Ovonic, Bosch acquired the former Cobasys plant from SB LiMotive, a joint venture of Bosch and Samsung, in October 2012.

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