Nyloncraft to close Fort Wayne plant, lay off more than 100

The shutdown of the Nyloncraft plant will be gradual over the course of the next year — as will the layoffs. The company announced it will give all Fort Wayne workers the option to relocate to positions at its other plants, one located in Mishawaka and the other in Jonesville, Mich., President and CEO Jim Krzyzewski said.

“This plant closure is a business decision largely driven by our customer base,” he said. “The unfortunate part of this is the upsetting impact on our employees and their families. We are committed to helping our dislocated workers with the resources they need to secure other employment.”

Krzyzewski said Nyloncraft, which is part of Nashotah, Wis.-based the Techniplas Group, will work with employees on a case-by-case basis to make relocations as smooth as possible. Employees could also see job offers from other Techniplas plastics companies, which have facilities in Wisconsin and Iowa, and also in parts of Europe.

Nyloncraft employs a total of 526 workers at its three plants and produces plastic products for the heavy trucking, industrial and medical markets. Two other Techniplas Group businesses are Vallotech and Dickten Masch Plastics, both of which specialize in thermoplastics.

Nyloncraft aims for continuity in its customer service throughout the transition, Krzyzewski said.

“As a business, our No. 1 concern is retaining our demonstrated reputation as a valued supplier to our customers,” he said.

Nyloncraft bought the former NYX plant in Fort Wayne in June. At that time, Krzyzewski said of the acquisition: “Bringing an operation like the NYX Fort Wayne facility into Nyloncraft further strengthens our position as an automotive industry leader and greatly benefits our customers, who are looking to us as a complete supply chain partner with deep technical expertise and broad geographic reach."