Jeld-Wen to Add 200 Jobs to Rantoul Plant Following Closure of Wisconsin Facility
RANTOUL — Exciting news for the Rantoul community as Jeld-Wen announces the addition of 200 jobs to their window and door manufacturing plant in Champaign County. This comes as a result of the closure of their Hawkins, Wis., facility, which employs 340 people.
Caryn Klebba, head of global public relations for Jeld-Wen, stated that the company expects the consolidation to be completed by the end of August. The decision to consolidate production into the Rantoul facility was made due to the larger capacity and available workforce in Rantoul compared to Hawkins.
Starting employees at the Rantoul plant will be paid $21.50 an hour, and employees from the Wisconsin facility are encouraged to apply for positions at the Rantoul factory. The company has also reached out to other employers in the Hawkins area to inform them of the availability of Jeld-Wen workers.
Market factors such as higher business costs and lower volume played a role in the consolidation decision. Klebba emphasized that this move is part of Jeld-Wen’s transformation journey to modernize their facilities and meet customer needs.
Plant manager Justin Thompson expressed a positive outlook among employees at the Rantoul plant, stating that they are embracing the opportunity while being aware of the company’s changes. The transition will involve moving equipment and materials from Wisconsin to Rantoul, with additional production, quality, maintenance, receiving, and shipping positions to be added at the Rantoul site.
The Rantoul plant, originally opened by Caradco in 1976 and acquired by Jeld-Wen in 1997, will see a boost in production and job opportunities with the consolidation of the Hawkins facility. Thompson anticipates full ramp-up within five months, signaling a bright future for the Rantoul plant and the local community.