PERRYSBURG, Ohio — Owens-Illinois plans to close its innovation center in Perrysburg, according to an internal memo obtained by WTOL 11.
The memo, leaked by an anonymous employee, shows the company plans to indefinitely suspend operations at the facility, a 24,000-square-foot glass-making facility used to run tests and try out prototypes, as early as Nov. 15.
O-I plans to close the center as part of an effort to reduce costs, optimize its networks and streamline the organization, according to the memo.
But the employee, who said they have already been told they're losing their job, said that translates to shipping jobs overseas to Columbia, India and Malaysia.
This comes after some big wins for the Perrysburg-based glass manufacturer, too.
In the last year, it received a $125 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, and its Northwest Ohio Glass Innovation Hub, not to be confused with the innovation center, received a $31 million state grant back in April.
The employee said this is especially frustrating amid layoffs in the company.
"This week this is who's gone. This week we let three go. This week we let five go. This week we took down that department. It's just so brazen, everyone around here is fearful," the employee said. "We love our company. We're the Glass City. We want to stay with this company, but everything has been flipped on its head."
O-I Glass provided WTOL 11 with the following statement:
"In July, O-I announced the company will be undertaking its Fit to Win initiative to sharpen the focus of the business model and overall organization through reduction of Sales, General & Administrative costs, streamlining the enterprise, as well as indefinite or permanent closures of furnaces across its global footprint. Actions taken as part of this program have included the reduction of employees in the Americas, eventual ceasing of commercial production in Streator, IL and idling the Perrysburg Innovation Center. These decisions were not made lightly but are a key step in optimizing the company’s operations. We are committed to supporting our employees throughout this period of transition. "
O-I said it could not say how many employees are affected.
The anonymous employee says many departments are being sent overseas.