Unwelcome news for the region spread quickly on Friday as a 117-year old company in Niles, National Standard, informed employees of the site’s permanent closure, asking workers to gather their personal items and leave the building.
For more than a century, National Standard has been part of the manufacturing supplier landscape and a huge economic engine for the Niles community. They’ve manufactured a wide range of wire and wire-related products. From tire bead wires to welding and industrial wires, the company has served numerous industries in the United States.
National Standard was founded in 1907 and headquartered in Niles with an additional manufacturing facility in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The company was acquired by Heico Wire Group in 2000.
51 employees at the 1631 Lake Street facility in Niles reportedly lost their jobs on Friday. We’re told token severance packages will be provided based on tenure.
A core group of remaining employees has been asked to remain to close operations by early April. At the time of this article’s publishing, company leaders could not be reached for comment. There have been no public-facing company announcements about the fate of the Niles location or their operations in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
