Amarr Garage Doors Axed 19 Staff due to Seasonal Downturn

Amarr Garage Doors, one of the world’s leading designers, manufacturers and distributors of door access systems for residential and commercial establishments in the US, removed about 19 manufacturing workers in its 411,000-square-foot Lawrence, Kansas plant due to the industry-wide decline in demand. The company laid off 19 full-time workers in all three shifts at the plant located at 3800 Greenway Circle in the East Hills Business Park. As of today, Amarr has about 480 employees left.

Delbert Phlipot, Vice President for manufacturing at Amarr, explained that the layoffs are attributed to the nationwide seasonal downturn in residential and commercial construction. “Obviously, we’re tied to the construction market, and the construction sector. Construction usually slows in the winter months.” Phlipot noted that the layoffs are not only concentrated in the Lawrence plant; the company also made a handful of seasonal layoffs at a smaller manufacturing center in Mocksville, NC.

Phlipot added that affected workers have not been offered severance packages or outplacement services. However, he explained that rehiring of some of the laid off workers is still possible when the industry picks up in the coming months.

Amarr is a North Carolina-based company that manufactures garage doors for more than 3,000 independent dealers and major retailers. Some of the company’s clients include Costco, Sears and Lowe’s Home Improvement Centers.