Lehigh Hanson Inc. has decided to halt cement production at its Glens Falls plant. Company officials said operations will be shut down in a phased manner in 2023.
The Glens Falls plant currently operates with 85 full-time employees. The company said in November it is committed to providing financial and job search assistance to minimize the impact on its employees.
“The decision to halt production at a plant is always difficult,” said Alex Car, president of Lehigh Hanson’s Northeast Region. “We are thankful for the dedication and efforts of our Glens Falls workforce over the years and we will work to minimize the impacts to our employees and the community as much as possible.”
The Lehigh Cement plant in Glens Falls has been operating since 1893. As a result of changes to the competitive landscape within the global cement industry, it has become increasingly difficult for relatively small and aging plants like the Glens Falls facility to cost-effectively manufacture its products, said Car.
The decision to halt production at the facility is in line with the company’s ongoing efforts to optimize its asset base and decrease the complexity of its operations, he said. With the company’s new state-of-the-art and energy-efficient cement plant in Mitchell, Ind., coming online next year, additional cement capacity in the company’s network will be re-directed to the New England area.
Lehigh Hanson has also recently invested in upgrades to its Cementon, N.Y., cement distribution terminal in Greene County.
“We are committed to continuing to supply our customers in the New England Region,” said Car. “We have the available capacity to meet the current and future needs of our customers even after the Glens Falls plant halts production.”
Lehigh Cement Company LLC is a part of Lehigh Hanson, Inc. based in Irving, Texas.