Oerlikon Fairfield responds to economy with job cuts

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - A major Lafayette manufacturer is making cuts this week that affect roughly 150 employees’ jobs, attributing the decision to lagging company numbers.

Oerlikon Fairfield, known better as Fairfield, announced Wednesday that “in response to the faltering economic recovery,” a reduction in force of its manufacturing population must be made.

Fairfield says several factors led to this decision. Uncertain government budgets, future regulations and global economic weakness were just a few.

The company says all these issues contributed to Fairfield’s order levels to be well below its record highs from the last few years, when more than 400 positions were added in Lafayette.

“The outlook for a return to those large volumes of 2012 does not appear to be imminent,” Fairfield’s Vice President of Human Resources, Jim Mills, said. “Our hope is that orders may build in the second half of 2013 so that we will be in a position to return to our record employment levels in the near future.”

Fairfield says notices are being delivered to affected personnel, which amounts to about 150 people.

The company added a smaller number of employees will voluntarily accept a temporary leave and return later in 2013.