00:00Pennsylvania Cable Giant to Shut 60-Year Plant, 150 Jobs Axed as Millions in Wages Vanish
00:07Workers at Prismian's Skookill Haven Cable Plant were notified in November 2025 that the facility
00:14will close, ending a 60-year manufacturing presence. The shutdown will eliminate 150 jobs
00:20and remove millions in annual wages from the local economy. A WARN Notice outlines phased
00:26layoffs beginning January 1, 2026, with full closure by December 31, 2027. The loss of an
00:33estimated $7.5 to $15 million in annual wages is expected to ripple across Skookill County.
00:41Prismian Group operates in more than 50 countries and remains a global cable leader. Despite industry
00:48growth, the company is closing this U.S. plant, highlighting uneven impacts of globalization and
00:53modernization. Founded in the early 1960s as Tamaqua Cable Products, the plant passed through
00:59several owners before becoming part of Prismian in 2011. For decades, it provided stable,
01:05multi-generational employment in the region. Older U.S. plants face rising costs tied to
01:10sustainability upgrades, energy efficiency, and materials. Facilities like Skookill Haven struggle
01:16to compete with newer, more automated sites. In November 2025, Prismian confirmed the closure,
01:22citing competitive pressures, tariffs, and the need to focus on advanced, greener production elsewhere.
01:28The closure removes a major source of local spending and tax revenue. The loss compounds existing economic
01:35strain in a county already dealing with industrial decline. Many long-time employees face limited local
01:41job options. Rural location and specialized skills make re-employment challenging as layoffs roll out
01:47through 2027. While Prismian exits, competitors invest elsewhere. A $365 million cable plant near
01:55Houston is planned, and companies like Molex are expanding into AI and data center infrastructure.
02:01Demand driven by 5G, renewables, and data centers continues to rise globally, yet growth favors
02:07modern facilities, leaving legacy plants behind. Recent mass layoffs include 505 jobs at a Tremont
02:14distribution center and 314 affected in Pottsville, intensifying regional pressure. Officials warn of
02:21long-term impacts on employment, schools, housing, and public services as manufacturing jobs disappear.
02:27The company is consolidating operations, prioritizing high-margin, technology-driven markets
02:31over legacy U.S. sites. Retraining programs exist, but comparable manufacturing jobs are
02:37scarce, leaving the county's recovery uncertain. The closure underscores a broader pattern of
02:42de-industrialization, raising urgent questions about the future of manufacturing in Pennsylvania.
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