Press manufacturer Mark Andy says it will discontinue manufacturing and engineering operations at its Comco press factory in Milford, OH, USA, and relocate those operations to its headquarters plant in Chesterfield, MO, USA, outside of St. Louis.

In a statement released by the executive team of Mark Andy, the change is based on economic factors. “Recent changes in the global economy have forced us to look at operations even more closely and consolidate duplicate departments. The decision to operate two manufacturing facilities in the same geographic region is a logical opportunity for consolidation to effectively manage these operational efficiencies.”

The Comco facility, in a suburb of Cincinnati, included manufacturing, sales, customer service, engineering and administration. Sales, customer service and some administration will remain in Milford. That operation will retain approximately 25 percent of current employees.

Regional news reports indicated that the change would result in the layoffs of 58 people, but Jill Smith, marketing manager for Mark Andy, refuted that. “The 58 person reduction figure is based on worst-case planning scenarios, which is required by the WARN Act,” she says. “Each employee displaced by the shift of production activities was offered the opportunity to relocate to the St. Louis location. So far, more than 10 percent of the Milford employees have accepted permanent positions in St. Louis. Others are still pending. Every Milford employee who shows an interest in moving to the new location has been given the highest priority in filling available positions.

The company adds that no jobs are leaving the United States, and that all manufacturing processes will remain in the US.

Mark Andy acquired the Comco brand of narrow and midweb presses in 2001.