ADM Lays Off 43 in Clinton

The Quad Cities Times

Tools

By Aaron Hepker

Story Created: Feb 10, 2012 at 11:34 AM CDT

Story Updated: Feb 10, 2012 at 4:26 PM CDT

CLINTON, Iowa - Archer Daniels Midland Co., or ADM, announced today it has eliminated 43 jobs at its polymer facility in Clinton as a result of the end of a commercial alliance with Metabolix Inc.

ADM first announced in January that the alliance would end Wednesday, but at the time, it had not decided if layoffs would be necessary.

According to Kevin Moore, vice president and general manager of ADM’s Specialty Feed Ingredients, the affected employees were informed of the decision today. Another 46 colleagues will remain at the plant as the company prepares to idle it, he said.

“Although we are exploring options, we have not yet made long-term decisions about staffing levels or alternative uses for the polymer production facility,” Moore said in a statement. “It’s a world-class facility capable of producing a variety of products.”

ADM Polymer Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of ADM, had been producing Mirel, a biobased plastic, with Metabolix. Telles LLC, the sales and marketing commercial alliance created to commercialize Mirel, will be dissolved, and Mirel production will end.

As the company said in January, Moore indicated that the decision “is not a reflection of our ADM employees in Clinton nor the high-quality work they have done.”

Affected employees will be offered severance packages and 60 days pay in accordance with the federal WARN Act. They also will receive outplacement services and can apply at other ADM facilities, the company said.

ADM employs 1,000 people at its Clinton corn processing complex, where the polymer plant was one of the operations. The facility also includes a corn wet mill, a cogeneration power plant, a grain elevator and barge loading operations.

In Clinton, ADM produces corn sweeteners and starches; beverage alcohol; corn oil; enzymes; ethanol; animal feed products; and Fibersol, a dietary fiber product that can be used in foods and beverages.

Next Article Search for Missing Man in Cedar River Will Resume Monday

Conversation Guidelines

Be Kind

Don't use abusive, offensive, threatening, racist, vulgar or sexually-oriented language.
Don't attack someone personally. Keep it civil and be responsible.

Share Knowledge

Be truthful. Share what you know and what you are passionate about.
What more do you want to learn? Keep it simple.

Stay focused

Promote lively and healthy debate. Stay on topic. Ask questions and give feedback on the story's topic.

Report Trouble

Help us maintain a quality comment section by reporting comments that are offensive. If you see a comment that is offensive, or you feel violates our guidelines, simply click on the "x" to the far right of the comment to report it.

read the full guidelines here »

Commenting will be disabled on stories dealing with the following subject matter: Crime, sexual abuse, property fires, automobile accidents, Amber Alerts, Operation Quickfinds and suicides.