The workers at Winchester's largest factory will have to wait a little longer to find out whether they will remain employed after an ownership change takes place later this year.
The Indiana Marujun plant — the manufacturer of automotive parts was bought by TOA Industries Co. in January, about four months after the plant's expected closure was announced by company executives — has seen a steady drop in employment since the decision was announced.
Eric Fields, vice president of business at Marujun, said employees will be informed of TOA's plans in greater detail, including job opportunities, sometime in August or September. Those details will be presented ahead of an expected Dec. 1 transition of ownership from the old company to the new one.
The factory employed about 765 people at the time of its initial September closure announcement and now employs about 630, according to Fields.
Even so, the workers who have remained with the factory during the past nine months seem adept at leaving their worries at the door when they get there each day, he said.
"Certainly our people are probably (worried), but it hasn't affected the productivity at all," Fields said. "(Our employees) are really continuing to do great work here, and that's all you can hope for."