Canton plant's last day nearing

Parker Hannifin Corporation's Canton facility is nearing its last official day of business, but an effort has been under way to find a buyer for the site.

On Monday, an employee who answered the phone at the plant confirmed that its last day is Dec. 30.

The Central Bradford Progress Authority, a Towanda-based economic development organization serving Bradford and Susquehanna counties, meanwhile, has been working to find a replacement.

Brian Driscoll, countywide economic development manager with the authority, said that although "things are certainly winding down there (at the plant)," the facility has been shown to "a lot of different interests" in the hopes that a buyer can be found.

"There's some stuff in motion now."

He continued, "we've been showing the facility to folks, and trying to get a deal lined up. We've been working pretty closely with the broker on the property."

While some offers have been made, nothing has been finalized, he said.

"Nothing's for certain, but I think there's a pretty good chance of someone creating some jobs at that location."

"We certainly don't want to see it dormant. It's a great opportunity to have some jobs in Canton if we can get the building occupied."

According to the authority's Web site, the organization focuses on direct projects involving industrial development, small business development, business financing, public infrastructure development, site preparation, marketing, and workforce development for the benefit of the community. The CBPA has worked to address business needs and expansion opportunities through advocacy, funding assistance, and project facilitation since 1993.

Saying goodbye

One long-time employee of the Canton facility, Garry Kilbourn of Granville Center, who would have worked at the plant 47 years this February, said the company has been taking out the equipment to be transported to other plants, and other equipment is being sold.

"I think it (the closure) is going to hurt the community," he said. "I feel sorry for the younger people there because there's not that many jobs for them to go to to stay in this area."

Recently, the employees had pizza. He noted that they have been talking about old times at the plant, called "The Valve" locally in reference to an earlier owner.

Kilbourn said he counts himself lucky since he's able to retire, but he said it's going to be hard for the younger employees. But he said it will be difficult for him to walk away after so many years. "It's the people that I will miss."

Kilbourn hopes that someone can be found for the site.

"Maybe the people who work there will have the opportunity to get hired (by a new owner)."

Rick Bellows of LeRoy, another employee, said he's undecided about what he will do, but added that he will probably look for another job since he's not old enough to retire.

"It's going to be a change. It's kind of surprising. We didn't expect it 'til they told us." He's worked there almost 26 years.

"It's a long time to be in one place," he said. "Going out in the job market now at 50 years old is going to be challenging."

He said it would be nice if a new buyer could be found. "I don't have a lot of confidence; I really expect one of the gas companies to end up with it, but I'm not sure. I don't really know, that's just my guess."

Bellows said he wants to see another factory come into the plant, and employ local people.

"This area needs the jobs."

And he can't help but reflect on the many years the plant has been a part of the community.

"It's been there a long time."

WARN notice filed

Earlier this year, in a WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act) letter to the state Department of Labor and Industry, Parker Hannifin Corporation officially informed the state that the Canton facility was closing beginning Sept. 18.

In the letter, Jim Rowell, vice president of operations for Parker Hannifin Corporation, Automation Group - Pneumatic Division North America, wrote:

"On behalf of Parker Hannifin Corporation this letter is to advise you that the company will permanently cease operations beginning on Sept. 18, 2009." The letter was sent via Federal Express to Christine Enright, Rapid Response Director with the Bureau of Workforce Investment in Harrisburg.

It noted that 55 workers at the plant were to lose their jobs. The plant has an address of RR 1 Canton.

The letter continued by indicating that some of the employees are represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Lodge Local No. 1190, and that the company has completed discussions with the union about the closure.

This past summer, Aidan Gormley, a company spokesman, had said that the developments at the Canton facility were "a reaction to the continuing recession and its effect on demand in our primary markets."

With annual sales exceeding $10 billion, Parker Hannifin is the world's leading diversified manufacturer of motion and control technologies and systems, providing precision-engineered solutions for a wide variety of mobile, industrial and aerospace markets, according to the company's Web site. Its products are vital to virtually everything that moves or requires control, including the manufacture and processing of raw materials, durable goods, infrastructure development and all forms of transport, the Web site notes.

Eric Hrin can be reached at (570) 297-5251; e-mail: reviewtroy@thedailyreview.com.

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