Wauwatosa based Briggs & Stratton Corporation will close production plants in two Wisconsin communities, resulting in the permanent loss of 430 jobs.
Briggs will consolidate manufacturing of its Home Power Products Group, located in Jefferson and Watertown, to several existing Briggs & Stratton locations in Alabama, Georgia and Wauwatosa.
The Jefferson and Watertown plants currently manufacture all portable generator, home standby generator and pressure washer products marketed and sold by the company. A spokeswoman said some 390 hourly production employees and 40 salaried employees will be permanently laid off as a result of the closings, with an additional 90 to 100 salaried employees to be given an opportunity to transfer.
Company president and CEO Harold Redman said market volatility and the current economy led to the decision to wind down production at the Jefferson and Watertown plants. He said Briggs & Stratton has available capacity at other locations and shifting work to those plans will make manufacturing more efficient.
