Calibre to close plants, layoff 204 workers

Calibre Inc. announced last week it will permanently close its facilities in Saukville and Grafton, affecting 204 employees.

In a notice sent to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development on Oct. 28, President Jerry Wachowiak wrote, “The decision to permanently close Calibre has been prompted by our principal customer’s decision to no longer use our services.”

Calibre is an employee-owned company that provides paint finishing and supply chain solutions to original equipment manufacturers and other types of manufacturers. 

Company officials would not comment on who the principal customer is, but it is noted Calibre has worked primarily with Harley-Davidson, which has been seeing a decline in sales. 

Company spokesman Andy Larsen said Calibre will begin eliminating positions in phases beginning Dec. 31 and will close in its entirety by Aug. 31, 2021. 

Larsen said Calibre’s business remained strong during the coronavirus pandemic and the principal customer’s decision to no longer use its services was unexpected.

Wachowiak said there’s still hope the company could find another principal customer.

“We are hopeful that a potential new owner or cornerstone account will come forward in the next few months, but we are also committed to preserving our shareholder value. Therefore, we are preparing to cease operations in 2021,” Wachowiak said. 

According to company documents, the largest employee groups that will be eliminated are 35 painters and 32 buffers. Other positions impacted include nine hand graphics applicators, six rework and recover detailers, six assembly workers and packers, five maskers, five offline detailers, five paint line assistants, six robot operators, six set-up employees and eight shippers and receivers. 

The affected employees are not represented by a union and do not have bumping rights.

The company has two facilities in Saukville at 651 and 655 Dekora Woods Blvd. It also has two facilities in Grafton at 2395 Dakota Dr. and 1889 Hwy. W. 

Calibre was founded in 1982. The company provides handcrafted operations and automation in the motorsport, transportation and marine markets.