It is reported that ThyssenKrupp Access Corporation plans to shut down its US operations, including its headquarters and manufacturing operations in Grandview.

ThyssenKrupp Access said in a statement emailed to the Kansas City Business Journal that the home elevator manufacturer and service provider hasn't set a firm timeline for ending US operations, but layoffs of its 230 employees will start in late October. It has 58 employees in Grandview.

Layoffs of manufacturing, sales and administrative employees are expected to wrap up by the end of the year. Some may remain on longer, as needed.

Required employees will receive retention packages during the shutdown process. All other employees will receive severance packages based on length of service.

ThyssenKrupp Access will remain in the market as a legal entity to satisfy warranty obligations, and parts for its products will remain available. The statement did not elaborate. The company said it has not ruled out returning to the market in the future.

ThyssenKrupp Access put its three Grandview facilities up for sale in May 2011; they remain on the market.

The operation has a long history in Kansas City, founded in 1947 by an entrepreneur who developed the Stair Glide Stair Lift Marion Laboratories bought it in 1968. A management led investment group acquired the company in 1980 and sold it to ThyssenKrupp Elevator in 1999.

Source - Kansas City Business Journal

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