WireCo to close St. Joseph plant, eliminate 49 jobs

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – A wire company based in Prairie Village is closing most of its manufacturing operation in St. Joseph, eliminating nearly 50 jobs.

Christopher Ayers, president and CEO of WireCo World Group, announced the closing in a conference call with investors Thursday. The St. Joseph News-Press reports that the company is eliminating 49 jobs in St. Joseph.

The company’s wire rope products are used in energy exploration, bridge construction, industrial fishing, mining and other industries.

Ayers says the plant will be closing over the next year. He says equipment would be moved to other WireCo centers but about 14 employees will remain at a fabricated products division in St. Joseph.

The company, which is headquartered in Prairie Village, Kansas, operates 24 manufacturing plants in several countries.

This story was originally published March 11, 2016 at 7:43 AM with the headline "WireCo to close St. Joseph plant, eliminate 49 jobs."