Trane operations in Fort Smith spared seasonal cuts

Now for some good manufacturing news.

Trane’s Fort Smith plant will not see the seasonal layoff that cut 370 jobs at Trane’s large production facility in Tyler, Texas.

According to this report in the Tyler Morning Telegraph, Trane announced Aug. 12 it was cutting 370 jobs in Tyler as part “seasonal adjustments” in production. The paper notes that the plant employs just short of 2,000 people.

Trane spokeswoman Jerianne Thomas told The City Wire that no seasonal cuts are planned for Trane’s two operations in Fort Smith.

Trane Aire Systems — located near the Fort Smith landfill — employs about 300 and builds large heating and air conditioning systems and are sold on a global level. Trane’s residential segment, located on Zero Street, employs around 500 and builds smaller units for the domestic housing market.

The Trane residential plant was hit with a layoff of about 100 in late 2008, and Trane Aire Systems saw a layoff of about 40 in March.

Trane Aire Systems and Trane residential are owned by Piscataway, N.J.-based Ingersoll Rand, with most of the management oversight of the two Fort Smith plants based in St. Paul, Minn.