PLYMOUTH, M.N.(AberdeenInsider)- Banner Engineering Corp. has put a halt to its plans to close its manufacturing plant in Aberdeen.
Evan Burgstaler, executive vice president of operations, announced the suspension of a plan to close the plant.
The Minneapolis-based company made the announcement Friday, Nov. 15 in a news release.
“This decision was made due to recent changes in the business and geopolitical climates so that Banner is well-positioned to provide ongoing world-class support to the global industrial automation market,” the news release states.
In February, Banner announced plans to close its Aberdeen facility by the end of 2024. Letters were sent to the 311 employees at the manufacturing facility.
Banner announced plans to close the Aberdeen plant about a year after the company closed its Huron location.
The company closed the Huron plant, but gave the 150 or so employees working at the Beadle County location the opportunity to apply for open positions in Aberdeen and Brooklyn Park, Minn.
Michael Bockorny, CEO of the Economic Development Professionals Association of South Dakota,said news that Banner’s Aberdeen facility is staying open is “fantastic news for Aberdeen,” and he hopes market conditions can pick back up so Banner can stay long-term.
He believes Banner now has about 100 employees in Aberdeen.
And, he said, the best part about this past year is, “We get to keep Banner and we get Smack.”
Aberdeen Mayor Travis Schaunaman also said Banner’s announcement was good news for Aberdeen.
Schaunaman said recruiting businesses with hundreds of employees is extremely difficult.
“This is literally the best case scenario,” he said.
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