Worthington pushes back Medina closing date
Photo by Tom Rivers – Worthington Industries will keep its Medina plant open until July 31 on Bernz-O-Matic Drive.
MEDINA – A manufacturing company that makes torches will stay open in Medina a little longer.
Worthington Industries will continue production until July 31 in Medina. The company most recently set June 20 as its last day in Medina.
In December, Worthington officials said the plant would shut down on May 1 and put 152 people out of work.
The shutdown dates have been pushed back due to increased production, company leaders have said in letters to the Medina Village Board. Mayor Andrew Meier shared the latest letter during Monday’s board meeting.
Worthington operates the former Bernz-O-Matic and is shifting production from Medina to a site in Wisconsin. Many of the employees have worked at the plant for decades.
Worthington bought Bernz-O-Matic in 2011. Bernz-O-Matic had operated in Medina since 1969, making torches. Worthington makes cylinders for the torches in Wisconsin. By shifting the torch production to Wisconsin, the company says it can do everything at one site, saving in transportation costs.
Worthington planned to ramp up production in Medina, to have extra product while the company shifts production to the site in Wisconsin.
