Cary, N.C.-based Cornerstone Building Brands Inc. will lay off 72 workers at a vinyl windows and doors facility in North Brunswick, N.J., effective July 18.
Just 18 months ago the plant was trying to lure new hires with a MFG Day event.
The layoffs were disclosed in a notice filed in accordance with the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act.
No information was given as to whether the layoffs are permanent or whether the facility will close.
Cornerstone, the largest manufacturer of exterior building products by sales for residential and low-rise nonresidential buildings in North America, has about 150 production plants.
The company ranks second among the largest pipe, profile and tubing extruders in North America with $3.42 billion in related sales of deck and railing, fencing and siding in addition to windows and doors, according to Plastics News rankings.
In March, Cornerstone said it is acquiring Harvey Building Products, a window and door manufacturer, and its portfolio of brands, which includes Harvey, SoftLite and Thermo-Tech. The deal increases Cornerstone's presence in the repair-and-remodel market and strengthens its offerings in distribution and dealer channels with the addition of premium products.
Based in Waltham, Mass., Harvey specializes in premium and custom products primarily sold in the Eastern United States. The company has about 1,200 employees at four manufacturing sites in the Northeast and Midwest.
Cornerstone's layoff announcement for the New Jersey plant comes on the heels of several others in the windows and doors market, including about 190 people employed by Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio-based Associated Materials LLC, which said it is "optimizing our U.S. windows manufacturing operations."
A few weeks later, Associated Materials unveiled a plan to invest $100 million in equipment, digital technologies, and new work methods as part of a transformation strategy for its manufacturing operations.
Earlier in April, Charlotte, N.C.-based Jeld-Wen Holding Inc. said it will close two plants and layoff about 110 people, including those at a Vista, Calif., facility that produces composite windows marketed and sold under the brand name Auraline.