Larchwood, Iowa — Over 130 positions will be eliminated when a Larchwood area plant closes by the end of 2019.
Elanco Animal Health released a statement recently saying, “After careful consideration of our manufacturing operations, we have announced that we will be consolidating our vaccine manufacturing sites in Iowa. We will no longer operate our manufacturing site in Larchwood, Iowa in the future, and we are seeking a buyer for ongoing manufacturing operations at the site. Larchwood operations will be moved to our Fort Dodge, Iowa site.”
Citing their commitment to delivering greater innovation and value to customers at a time when the animal health business is continually changing and the need to develop “new, high-quality products at a competitive price, while ensuring increasing levels of shareholder return,” The company says the decision was made after evaluating operations across their global manufacturing network and “is not a reflection of site performance.”
Company spokesperson Betsy Villwock Bowman says the change to the Larchwood manufacturing operations will affect approximately 134 positions before they cease operations during a targeted date for completing technical transfers by the end of 2019. She says that Elanco’s priority during this difficult time “will be support for affected employees and ensuring they are treated with respect and integrity.”
The Elanco plant, on 140th Street is only about five miles from the South Dakota state line on the Big Sioux River. It was formerly owned by Novartis Animal Health.
