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Bayer to close Robinson Township facility; more than 500 employees impacted

ROBINSON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Bayer is closing its Robinson Township location, the company announced in a statement.

Employees at the facility were notified of the closure Tuesday morning.

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The closure will happen over the course of two years and impact more than 500 employees and nearly 100 contractors.

"This is a very difficuly announcement. we understand this is a tough day for our community," spokesman Chris Loder said. "We will treat the employees with the dignity and respect they deserve."

Last year, Bayer acquired U.S. seed and weed-killer maker Monsanto Co. In November 2018, Bayer announced that the company would cut 12,000 jobs globally by 2021.

"They have become a part of the fabric of our community here," said Chris Heck, president and CEO of the Airport Area Chamber of Commerce.

Hear more of his comments here.

The company released a statement Tuesday morning:

"For more than 150 years, Bayer has stood for quality and trust, making innovative products in health and nutrition that improve lives and make a contribution to society. Our employees around the globe work every day to find solutions to a growing and aging population.

"With the acquisition of Monsanto completed last year, we doubled the size of our business in the United States to more than $16 billion in sales, and we now employ more than 20,000 people in 300 locations across the country.

"As part of the work to bring our companies together and significantly improve productivity and profitability, Bayer announced in November 2018 that it will reduce 12,000 jobs globally by 2021.

"In the United States, we are beginning to implement this by consolidating administrative functions to best support our agriculture business, which is headquartered in St. Louis, and our healthcare businesses, which are headquartered in Whippany, N.J.

"As a first step toward this consolidation, we are announcing that we will be closing our administrative site in Robinson, PA, and informed employees at this site today. This decision will impact 569 positions and 96 contractors.

"This is certainly a difficult decision given the impact it will have on our colleagues and their families, and the important role the site has played in our company's history. We have an extremely talented workforce in Robinson and a proud and rich history. We thank our colleagues for their hard work and dedication over the years.

"We will transition the site closing in a thoughtful, orderly manner over a two-year period to provide ample time for employees and operations to transition smoothly and to ensure that we continue to serve our customers and businesses effectively. We are exploring options where key work at the site will be performed.

"We have the utmost appreciation for the employees and their families affected by this decision, and we are committed to treating each employee with dignity and respect throughout this process. We know that changes like this can be uneasy and even a bit stressful for our employees – and for the community. That is why we will honor our commitments and continue to support important groups like non-profits and other charitable organizations in the region at the same level in 2019 and 2020."

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