Updated on 02/24/15:
Siemens Energy officials say they plan to end furloughs that had been implemented because of a dockworkers labor dispute on the West Coast.
The company said the plant in Hutchinson is expected to be back in full operation by Monday.
Original Story:
The West Coast labor dispute at the seaports is affecting one of Reno County’s largest employers…the Siemens Wind Energy Plant in Hutchinson. Sean Sandefur has the story.
Siemens is temporarily scaling back production of its wind turbine nacelle due to a parts shortage stemming from the disruptions in shipping on the West Coast.
Sixty employees were put on furlough as the plant canceled its third shift beginning Tuesday night.
A Siemens spokesman says they are assessing the situation on a day-to-day basis and are working to secure parts from other Siemens facilities such as a nacelle plant in Denmark and locations in the U.S.
The plant has 360 employees. They build 90-ton nacelles, which sit atop the wind tower, supporting the rotor and housing components for electric power generation.
The company says that manufacturing will continue, and it hopes to resume the normal production schedule as soon as possible.
