Haworth plant, Douglas
DOUGLAS, Mich. (WZZM) - Haworth is making a number of changes at production facilities in West Michigan.
The office furniture maker announced plans Thursday to move fabrication and assembly of some products from the Steel Components Plant in Holland to the existing Haworth facility in Big Rapids. The move is expected to start in the next few weeks and continue through mid-2013.
Haworth will also move a majority of the work now done at the facility in Douglas to the Holland plant. The transition will start early next year and should complete by 2014 when the Douglas plant will close.
An estimated 180 jobs will be moving. However, the company says it is offering 400 employees 'voluntary severance' due to the nature of the changes.
A company news release states, "Haworth is working hard to put measures in place that should result in no involuntary elimination of any Haworth member's employment."