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Siemens Hamilton cuts 550 jobs

TheSpec.com Lisa Grace Marr

Moving gas turbine division to North Carolina

Siemens Fossil Power Generation division in Hamilton announced today that it is moving its Hamilton gas turbine manufacturing arm to Charlotte, North Carolina, affecting 550 jobs.

The division will shut down Hamilton operations by July 2011.

Brian Maragno, operations manager at the Hamilton plant, said the decision was in no way a reflection of the quality of its employees.

“We have a long history in Hamilton - more than 100 years - I can say that I hold the employees here in the highest regard.”

Maragno said Siemens made the decision to move the gas turbine division to Charlotte to be closer to its customer base.

The 200 service-related positions at the Milton Avenue plant will remain.

The affected employees may be offered positions in Charlotte or in Siemens’ Canadian operations, said Maragno.

The Hamilton plant was responsible for the manufacture of large efficient gas turbines for the new Halton Hills Generating Station - expected to be ready for commercial operation this year.

http://www.thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/735564