Wisconsin job loss a plus for Auburn plant

More jobs will be coming to Briggs & Stratton’s Auburn location as part of a consolidation of the company’s home power products group, according to a company spokeswoman.

The company’s plant in Jefferson, Wis., which makes pressure washers and portable generators, will close by the end of fiscal year 2010, and its product lines will be divided among existing plants in Alabama, Georgia and Wisconsin, according to a release from the company.

Laura Timm, director of corporate communications, said she was unsure of the number of jobs the move would bring to the Auburn plant, but the addition of the portable generator production line would require more workers than the plant has currently.

“There will be added jobs,” she said.

The Jefferson plant closing will eliminate 430 jobs, and 90 to 100 additional salaried employees will be offered relocation packages, the release states.

Because of demand for generators during hurricane season from June to November, the company will wait to close the plant, Timm said.

“I suspect as soon as hurricane season is over the lines will move down there very quickly,” she said.

By January 2011, the production lines should be moved to the Auburn facility, Timm said.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do in the next 12 months,” she said.

Timm said the Jefferson facility will be sold.

The Milwaukee-based company said the relocation is due to market volatility, the recession and capacity in other locations.

Briggs & Stratton estimates about $11 million in pretax savings from the consolidation of operations in fiscal 2011.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.