Nichiha closes one Macon plant, will lay off employees

Nichiha USA, the domestic arm of a Japanese construction materials manufacturer, will close one of its two plants in south Macon as part of a “strategic restructuring,” the company announced Monday. 

The closure of the plant, located in an industrial park next to the Middle Georgia Regional Airport, will affect approximately 170 employees, a Nichiha spokesperson wrote in an email.

The main facility, Plant 1, will be closed down in 60 days. The company’s second plant will remain open.

Nichiha is choosing to focus on producing “premium building materials,” a spokesperson wrote, including its architectural wall panel system.

Plant 1 is primarily for residential business manufacturing. The work from that plant will be transferred to the company’s other Macon plant, which produces commercial products, according to the company’s news release.

“While this decision was extremely difficult, it is necessary to build a stronger foundation for long-term success,” wrote CEO Takayuki Okada. “Nichiha USA remains committed to being a responsible corporate citizen in Macon-Bibb County for many years to come.” 

Nichiha first opened the manufacturing facility in 2006. The company built an additional plant and warehouse in 2022 behind a $150 million investment. 

Stephen Adams, executive director of the Macon-Bibb Industrial Authority, said Nichiha will maintain a presence in the industrial park and look for business opportunities further down the line.

Adams said the industrial authority will work to help the workers and Maconites impacted by the closure and let them know about other employment opportunities.

Macon is very interconnected with international business markets, Adams said, and having a diversity of companies in the industrial authority’s portfolio helps mitigate the impact of market forces.

“It’s never good to see their impact lessen in our community, but the hope is that this change will allow them to be better,” Adams said.