Owens Corning confirms Wabash facility will close in October
WABASH, Ind. (WISH) — An insulation, roofing and fiberglass products maker will close its Wabash plant by the end of October, Owens Corning has announced in a letter to Indiana officials.
The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act letter sent Friday to the state from a human resources representative gave no reason for the closing of the Owens Corning Thermafiber manufacturing facility.
The plant and shipping facility is at 3711 Mill St. That’s west of the Wabash County city of 10,347 that’s about a 2-hour drive north of downtown Indianapolis.
Nearly 90 people will lose their jobs. The letter says, “This is a non-unionized facility and all employees impacted by the closure do not have any bumping or transfer rights.”
The facility was founded as American Rock Wool in 1934.
The closing had been anticipated since at least April when economic development agency Grow Wabash County announced plans for a May employment event to help Thermafiber employees who were facing a possible plant closing.
Owens Corning acquired Thermafiber Inc. in June 2013. At that time, the plant made insulation products from fiberglass, foam and mineral wool. Products in recent years had included fire blankets, fire blocks and curtain walls used to curb flames in buildings, and insulation to conserve energy, control noise and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Wabash Mayor Scott Long in April described the employees of Thermafiber as devoted. He said in the April statement, “While this is a stressful time for the community, work is already underway by the City in partnership with Grow Wabash County and our local manufacturing industry to ensure these displaced employees and their families are provided resources and information they need to withstand the challenges this closure presents.”
On talk of the possible closing, the Wabash City Council in July denied allowing Owens Corning Thermafiber to have a tax abatement in 2024. Owens Corning had received a tax abatement from city officials when it took over the facility.