Fontaine lays off 150 staff in Magog, Que.

Magog, Que. — Wastewater equipment maker Fontaine says it’s laying off about 150 employees and shutting most of its operations in Magog, Que., due to a poor economy and lower municipal project funding.

The company said Friday it is transferring all engineering and manufacturing operations to other locations owned by its parent company Rexnord, based Milwaukee, Wisc.

“There are some of the facilities in Magog, Que. that will go to places in the United States, but it is a global consolidation of operations, not the transfer to one place,” said Daniel Nadeau, a spokesman for Fontaine.

Fontaine manufactures gates and other equipment for the water and wastewater markets, while its parent Rexnord also operates a separate division for the parts of motion control devices such as conveyor belts and bucket elevators.

The consolidation is expected to take place over the next three to six months, though Fontaine will continue to operate a sales office in Magog that will maintain the company’s name and staff approximately 20 people.
© 2011 The Canadian Press