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December 4, 2009
The 400 layoffs at Energy Conversion Devices Inc., the parent company of United Solar Ovonic, will predominantly affect workers in Michigan as the rooftop solar panel maker looks to cuts costs amid slower demand.
Rochester Hills-based ECD said late Thursday it plans to cut 400 jobs, or nearly 20 percent of its 1,900-person workforce, as part of a larger restructuring plan.
The company as previously reported is laying off 80 workers at its solar panel plants in Greenville, but job cuts will also affect workers at its headquarters and plants in Auburn Hills and Tijuana, Mexico.
"The reductions happened at all of our sites," spokesman Mark Trinske said in an e-mail. "Most of our people are in Michigan, and as a result, most of the reductions were in Michigan.
"The restructuring impacted all levels of the company, including manufacturing and corporate positions, but we did not do a specific breakout."
In its release, the company attributed the layoffs in part to a previously announced restructuring related to it $16.3 million purchase of Los Angeles-based Solar integrated Technologies Inc. in July. The company said the moves are expected to save $17 million.
ECD, which makes thin-film rooftop solar panels, lost $11.8 million during its most recent quarter.
"Because we are on a 'demand-driven' expansion, when demand slowed we postponed the continued expansion of Greenville and the new development of (a factory in) Battle Creek," Trinske said. "We were left with a cost structure that was too high for the current demand outlook.
"This restructuring reduces our costs so we can compete effectively in the current market and be positioned to be successful as the market grows."
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