Coperion K-Tron plant in Salina, Kan., is closing

Coperion K-Tron is closing its Salina, Kan., plant and moving the production to three other U.S. facilities.  

Some 98 employees, ranging from warehouse operations to manufacturing engineers to assembly operations, will lose their jobs by the end of the year. Another 50 jobs, mostly in engineering and sales, will transition to remote positions. 

The Salina plant designs, engineers and manufactures Coperion K-Tron feeders and pneumatic conveying equipment and systems for a variety of bulk solids industries including plastics, chemicals, food and pet food, pharmaceutical and minerals, according to a company representative. 

Salina production is being shifted to Coperion facilities in Whitewater, Wis., Sabetha, Kan., and Kansas City, Mo. 

Hillenbrand Inc., based in Batesville, Ind., acquired K-Tron in 2010 and the Coperion Group in 2012, then merged them in 2013. Coperion is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. 

“I am confident that streamlining our U.S. operations will enable us to strengthen our support for customers in the Americas and allow us to uphold our commitment to delivering high-quality, innovative solutions,” said Ulrich Bartel, Coperion president.