Parker Hannifin to close Beaufort County plant; layoffs planned

A multibillion-dollar company will pull its manufacturing operation from Beaufort County by the end of the year.

Parker Hannifin's Racor Division, which makes filtration systems for the automotive industry, will move manufacturing to other facilities, primarily in Mississippi and California.

The company had 75 employees at its facility on Parker Drive in northern Beaufort County -- 57 full-time employees and the others temporary, human resources manager Kurt Dimitrov said.

Dimitrov said he will start trying to place employees in new jobs beginning Oct. 1, with the operation closing by Dec. 31. He said he doesn't expect any layoffs before October and that some employees will have the opportunity to transfer to other jobs within the company.

"We're trying to be supportive of the community, even though there is transition with our company, ... and help these folks get into new jobs," Dimitrov said.

In a statement, the company said the consolidation was the "only viable option," and that demand for the company's products didn't match the Beaufort facility's manufacturing capability.

Dimitrov said he is working with the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce to provide job training for Parker employees, including resume-writing workshops, job fairs and education about unemployment benefits.

Parker will provide severance pay and 90 days of medical coverage and placement services, according to a news release.

The company once employed as many as 260 here, Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce president Blakely Williams said. A couple of years ago, Parker executives met with city leaders to announce the company was reducing the Beaufort workforce by half, from 150 employees to 75.

The company set up another meeting for this month, telling a group including Beaufort Mayor Billy Keyserling and Williams of plans to end its ties with the area, and there was nothing that could be done to retain them.

Williams said the news highlighted the need for a business-retention and -expansion program.

"I think it's a tremendous loss, not only for the employees but for the entire community," Williams said. "Parker Hannifin has been a great community partner over the years."

Follow reporter Stephen Fastenau at twitter.com/IPBG_Stephen.

This story was originally published July 29, 2015 at 1:22 PM with the headline "Parker Hannifin to close Beaufort County plant; layoffs planned."