Russell Coil plant to close

A longtime Yuma manufacturing plant will be closing its doors over the coming months, resulting in the loss of about 150 jobs, a company spokeswoman confirmed Monday.

Known locally as Russell Coil, the plant will be closed in phases, with the first layoffs scheduled for October. The complete closure of the plant is expected in February as its operation is consolidated to a sister plant in Scottsboro, Ala.

Russell Coil, built in 1986 at 3860 S. Arizona Ave., manufactures commercial and industrial refrigeration products for the Heat Transfer Products Group (HTPG) of Carrier Corp. The assets of HTPG were acquired in July by Monomoy Capital Partners.

“After a strategic review of our operations, we determined that the consolidation of our Yuma, Ariz., and Scottsboro, Ala., plants would drive significant improvements in efficiency and enhance the company's ability to provide its customers with the highest quality products and services,” corporate officials said in a prepared statement to the Yuma Sun Monday.

“Regretfully, this consolidation will result in the closing of our Yuma plant and the elimination of jobs at this location. As hard as this is for all of our Yuma employees and HTPG management, we firmly believe this is a necessary step for HTPG to compete in today's economy, and in the long run will help us to maintain the exceptional service our customers expect,” the statement continued.

The news came as a blow for Yuma County's already battered job market, which reached an unemployment rate of 22.8 percent July.

“It's been in the community a long time and has a number of good-paying jobs,” said Yuma City Administrator Greg Wilkinson. “This will be a significant loss in jobs to the community.”

Julie Engel, president and CEO of Greater Yuma Economic Development Corp., agreed. “This is a sad day. It's been a steady employer for years and a mainstay in our community for such a long time.”

Engel noted that Russell Coil had been very involved in the community and was a founding member of the Yuma Manufacturers Association.

Both Wilkinson and Engel said they're still following up with corporate executives in an effort to save any part of the operation in Yuma.

If unsuccessful, Wilkinson noted, the plant will provide a “really marketable building” in efforts to attract another manufacturer to Yuma.

According to a letter sent by HTPG to the plant's employees, approximately 60 employees will be laid off in October. An additional 30 employees will be laid off in November.

More layoffs will follow in mid-December and production at the Yuma plant will cease. The plant is scheduled to be permanently closed in February.

The letter lists a current total of 152 employees.