A forklift manufacturing company with more than 1,400 employees and a 50-year history in Pitt County will lay off 97 workers during a weeklong period starting Jan. 23, according to a notice filed with the N.C. Department of Commerce.
Cleveland, Ohio-based Hyster-Yale Materials Handling announced earlier this month it was reducing its lift truck manufacturing unit to one operating shift, which would result in laying off workers.
The affected employees are not a part of a union. Available bumping rights are governed by Hyster-Yale’s applicable policy provisions, according to paperwork filed with the state.
Of the 97 workers, 43 are classified as assemblers, 23 welders and 14 material control attendants, according to the company. Hyster-Yale is celebrating its 50th year in Pitt County in 2024, and in October received the Pitt County Industry of the Year – Large Business Award.
Hyster-Yale operates its division headquarters, warehouse development center and warehouse lift truck manufacturing facility in Greenville. This summer, Hyster-Yale announced the consolidation of its Global Emerging Technology division to space in Intersect East, East Carolina University’s Millennial Campus, which brought 120 jobs to downtown Greenville. The new technology center will develop and deploy new materials handling technologies, according to a release.
Hyster-Yale designs, engineers, manufactures, sells and services a comprehensive line of lift trucks, attachments, aftermarket parts and technology solutions marketed globally primarily under the Hyster and Yale brand names. It has 8,300 employees globally and a $1 billion market capitalization.
Hyster-Yale officials did not return calls seeking additional comments.