GE Energy to shut down West Chester Twp. facility

WEST CHESTER TWP. — GE Energy will close its service center in West Chester Twp. in April, eliminating 94 local jobs.

The company informed the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services on July 20 of the closure at the plant on Circle Freeway in West Chester Twp. The 94 employees effected were told July 17 of the pending closure.

The service center will close and the repair services performed there will be consolidated at GE’s manufacturing plant in Greenville, S.C., according to the company.

“Essentially it is just in light of the current economic situation. We have to optimize our number of service centers to remain competitive and responsive to our customers and this was part of that plan,” said Jon Bogle, spokesman for GE Energy.

The local plant services gas turbine components, with GE Energy produces at other facilities. The shut down is expected to be permanent, Bogle said.

Barb Wilson, spokeswoman for West Chester Twp. said the township’s community development staff is working with GE to link workers with displacement services.

The closure of the service center is not related to the GE Aviation facility in Evendale nor the new Aviation center being built in West Chester Twp., Bogle said.

The new West Chester Twp. facility is targeted for completion at the end of the year. About 1,400 engineering positions, including 100 at existing facilities in West Chester Twp., will be consolidated there from other GE Aviation locations, Wilson said.

GE Energy produces turbines and other power-generation components. It is becoming part of a new division, GE Energy Infrastructure, as part of a reorganization announced by General Electric Co. July 25 in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jheffner@coxohio.com.

About the Author