© 2024 KMUW
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Stories focused on energy & environment topics throughout the state of Kansas.

New Orders Will Help Hutchinson Wind Farm Parts Plant Avoid Further Layoffs

Plant officials at Siemens Wind Energy in Hutchinson say new orders will help the company avoid more layoffs for now.

The plant recently received orders to supply parts for wind farms being built in Southern California and Chile.

Siemens announced in September that it was cutting 60 percent of its Hutchinson workforce. The layoffs were completed this week, leaving the plant with 150 workers.

It once had more than 400 employees. Siemens also laid off 570 people at its Fort Madison, Iowa, plant and 62 others around the country.

Jim Jones, interim plant manager in Hutchinson, says the company expects to get more orders. He says that will mean more hours for current workers, rather than adding extra jobs.