According to local news reports, ThyssenKrupp USA plans to cut 197 jobs at its Calvert, Alabama plant due to increasing raw material costs and slower than anticipated steel demand. Currently, 1,653 employees work at the facility. The steelmaker will reduce its workforce in the administrative and operational areas.
President and CEO Christian Dohr said in a statement, "While we continue to make steady headway into our target markets, such as automotive and pipe and tube, this has not happened as rapidly as we hoped due to weaker market conditions that have affected us and the wider steel industry. Despite our best efforts, we are unable to continue operating with full headcount any longer. Today, our main priority is to help those team members who will not retain their jobs."