Honeywell closing Teterboro parts plant

Honeywell closing Teterboro parts plant

	Published : Wed, 21 Mar 2007 22:02 By : Agencies Print this Story

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Honeywell International Inc. plans to shut down its underused aviation manufacturing plant in Teterboro, shift some operations elsewhere and sell the property to a development company, Honeywell said Wednesday.

Honeywell has a proposed agreement to sell the 68-year-old manufacturing plant -- a key parts factory during World War II -- to Catellus Development Group, Honeywell spokesman Jim O'Leary said.

He could not say when the deal is likely to close or how many jobs will be lost. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

The plant's manufacturing work is to be transferred a factory in Albuquerque with similar operations, O'Leary said, and the company will negotiate with the United Auto Workers as to whether union workers in Teterboro will be offered transfers or other accommodations.

The plant makes flight control equipment, cockpit displays for combat aircraft and other products mainly for military aircraft. Its 425 workers also do engineering design, testing and assembly of products, and service work on aircraft electronics.

'The majority of the jobs from the Teterboro site will remain in New Jersey,' O'Leary said.

He said the engineering and office workers will be transferred to Honeywell's headquarters in Morris Township, also in northern New Jersey, over the next 12 to 24 months.

After a routine review of its real estate holdings, Honeywell decided to close the plant and shift its operations to better serve customers and increase productivity, O'Leary said.

In its heyday as a major provider of aircraft parts during World War II, the plant employed 13,000 workers. A predecessor company of Honeywell acquired the plant when it bought Bendix Corp., an aviation and automotive manufacturer, in 1983.

Less than half of the 875,000 square feet of building space is currently active, according to O'Leary.

The 61-acre property is contaminated, and Honeywell has been working on a cleanup. O'Leary said cleanup work would continue during any sale and redevelopment.

Catellus, based in Denver, specializes in development projects mixing residential, retail and office facilities at brownfield sites, military bases and former airports.