Delta Industrial Valves to go out of operation

Delta Industrial Valves, a member of Weir Group known for its knife gate valves, will cease operations at its Michigan, US, plant by mid-2017.

Delta, which has been operating the plant in Niles for about 30 years, said the change in oil prices and the wildfires in Alberta, Canada, prompted the closure.

The facility’s about 60 employees manufactured pumps, valves, wellheads, and other products for oil and gas, minerals, power, and general industrial applications.

"The decision to close the Niles facility is a difficult one and reflects the challenges in Delta Industrial Valves' oil sands markets as a result of the oil price downturn, further compounded by the Alberta wildfires earlier this year,” Weird Group said in a statement.

“We will do all we can to support our people during this time and are actively looking for opportunities for some employees to transfer to other Weir Minerals US facilities. There will be no impact to the service offered to Delta Valves customers."

The Weir Group, based in Scotland and with 14,000 people employed in 70 countries, purchased Delta back in 2015.

The Niles plant is expected to be shut down by the end of June.