ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. — The Akebono Brake Corporation will close its Elizabethtown plant, laying off nearly 450 employees over the next year, according to a memo sent to the Kentucky Career Center and Mayor Jeff Gregory on Oct. 3.
The plant, located at 300 Ring Road, will begin phasing out its workforce starting Dec. 5, with layoffs continuing through Dec. 31, 2026.
Akebono cited a decline in U.S. business as the reason for the closure.
The layoffs include a wide range of positions:
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213 production associates
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82 group leaders in production and indirect departments
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35 maintenance technicians
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17 plating/waste treatment technicians
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16 production supervisors
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15 engineers and engineering technicians
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14 management roles
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14 material control and planning technicians
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18 quality engineers, technicians, and analysts
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10 engineering and maintenance supervisors
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4 continuous improvement technicians
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8 accounting, purchasing, and IT positions
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3 health, safety, and environment staff
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1 human resources generalist
The company confirmed that none of the affected employees are unionized.
Akebono, which has operated in Hardin County for years, said the decision was difficult but necessary to respond to market changes affecting its North American operations.
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