By Cynthia Payne, Hartford City News Times Publisher
Employees of Hartford Metal Products, 2001 Renner Drive, Hartford City, learned Friday the plant has been sold and will be closed early next year. The 39 people who work there, including the operations manager, will no longer have a job.
William Jennart, 1405 W. Water St., Hartford City, is philosophical about the situation. At nearly age 63 he is ready to retire. "I figure I've been in the rat race long enough. But I hate it for the young ones," he said.
Tammy Kellogg, Hartford City, is one of those who can't retire and her reaction is more specific. "It sucks," she said Tuesday afternoon. A production manager, she has worked at Hartford Metal for 16 years.
She said she doesn't know what she's going to do now. "There are no jobs to be had around here," she said.
Jennart has worked at Hartford Metal for the past six years. "I've never worked with a better bunch of people," he said.
Jennart said he wasn't surprised when he learned the news. "We expected it, orders have dropped off.
"It's the times we live in," he said.
The parent company, Lift-A-Loft, Cowan, has sold the Hartford City plant and a similar plant in Parker City employing 57 people, to a Michigan firm. "It was purchased by WBI and they have chosen not to operate in Indiana," explained Nancy Barefoot, vice president at Lift-A-Loft.
The Michigan company has purchased the assets, including the equipment and good will with the local plant's customers, she said.
The plant was sold because, first, the company received an offer to purchase and, second, because of the economy in general and the automotive industry in particular, Barefoot said.
Hartford Metal makes automotive components for seat tracks and vibration control and also does metal stamping and some assembly work. The company was started about 30 years ago and the Hartford City business has been operating for about half that time, according to personnel.
The plant will officially shut down when its current contracts have been completed, Barefoot said. "We don't really know when the last day will be. We know it will be operating through January and it might be as late as March. Essentially, it will be when the work is done," she said.
There is no chance the plant will be re-opened in its present form, but the Michigan company did not purchase the buildings. "They are for sale and we really hope someone would like to come in and employ these people," Barefoot commented.
David Jarboe, operations manager at the Hartford plant, has been working at this location for about a year. He came here from another metal stamper in Carmel that closed for the same reason, he said. "There are a lot of people in our predicament. It's very tough right now, especially if you're all automotive," he said.
"It's brutal right now," he added.
Jarboe lives near Fishers, where he believes there will be more job opportunities available. "But the people who are local, who live here and want to stay here, don't have as many opportunities. It's depressing," he said.
Currently, the Hartford City plant operates two shifts. Wages start in the $10-12 hour range, with higher salaries for the more skilled workers.
Lift-A-Loft makes aerial lift platforms which are primarily used for maintenance.