“This employment action is due to a sharp decline in work from the facility’s principal customers,” Ray Steen, General Dynamics human resources director, wrote in a letter dated Aug. 13.
The company laid off 29 workers from the same plant in February. Those layoffs were attributed to a delay in an order for mortar fins from the U.S. Army. The 240,000-square-foot plant makes rocket motor tubes for the U.S. Army’s Hydra 70-air-to-ground rockets. The plant also produces liners and cartridges for 40mm ammunition rounds and components to its 60mm-120mm mortar rounds.
General Dynamics acquired the plant in August 2012. The acquisition was seen as a way for General Dynamics to consolidate its supply chain. The Springboro plant — which had long served General Dynamics — can perform metal forming, heat treatment, machining and coating, all under one roof.
The February layoffs were the first round of layoffs at the plant after General Dynamics bought it.
A company spokesman referred questions to a colleague.
General Dynamics announced in July that it will merge its Armament and Technical Products division into its Ordnance and Tactical Systems Division.
The consolidation will result in the closing of the Charlotte, N.C. headquarters of the ATP division by the end of the year, the company has said. It wasn’t immediately clear what impact if any the merger would have on the Springboro plant.
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