2 manufacturers closing doors

Although Wayne County has gained jobs and investments from some recent business consolidations, corporate leaders have decided to wind down operations at two Richmond plants. 

Valerie Shaffer, Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County president, said EDC staff are working with human resource teams for TBK America and Champion Target to help connect their former employees with similar local job opportunities.

As local employers learn about the closures, the EDC is receiving many calls from companies wanting to be connected to the displaced workers.

EDC’s online Wayne County Job Finder at homeinwayne.com/work/ currently shows about 2,900 job openings. 

Shaffer said a lot of companies are being sold to private equity firms. When that happens, EDC staff don’t know what the fate of those companies will be. 

Private equity firms aim to make money by reorganizing companies and maximizing profitability, she said. 

While EDC staff build relationships with local and corporate leaders of the county’s manufacturers, they don’t have connections with the entities purchasing companies, Shaffer said.  

In the last few years, several companies were sold to private equity firms that created new investments in Wayne County.

TBK America, which makes oil and water truck pumps at 3700 W. Industries Road, will cease operations Sept. 30, although some workers will stay on to close the plant and find new homes for equipment.

According to the EDC’s online list of major local employers, TBK America had 84 workers. 

Shaffer said TBK issued a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice that was submitted to Richmond Mayor Ron Oler. 

Former Richmond Mayor Dave Snow and Shaffer met with TBK leaders in Tokyo during their two trips to Japan. 

Despite developing those close relationships with TBK, Shaffer said business circumstances meant it didn’t make financial sense for the company to continue its Richmond operations. 

Richmond is TBK’s only U.S. location. Its headquarters and two additional plants in Japan aren’t impacted.  

Because Wayne County has limited industrial real estate on the market, Shaffer said, the EDC has received requests for information about TBK America’s building. 

EDC staff also have offered assistance to Vista Outdoor, locally known as Champion Target, when its building becomes ready for sale. 

The company suddenly closed its doors at 232 Industrial Parkway in early August. Workers made clay targets for sport shooting. 

Vista Outdoor rebranded its outdoor division as Revelyst in 2023. Closures of several of its locations were announced this month after a Czech Republic company bought Revelyst. 

Champion Range and Target’s website said Richmond’s location is close to supplies of petroleum pitch and limestone, and the machines that made the targets were built locally. 

Champion Target began in 1974 as a division of Federal Cartridge Company. Blount International bought Federal Cartridge Company and Champion Target in 1997. Blount Sporting Equipment Group was sold to Alliant Tech System in 2001. Champion Target was renamed in 2004 to Champion Traps & Targets, and rebranded in 2017 as Champion Range and Target. 

Shaffer said Champion Target operated quietly and the closure “came as a surprise to us.” 

EDC staff would occasionally check in with Champion Target leaders to see if they needed anything, but Champion Target never reached out for assistance, Shaffer said.