In a “WARN Act” (NY’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) Notification filed last week, Crucible Industries has announced that it plans to close affective March 2025. The announcement is causing shock waves in knife circles, as Crucible is a major producer of knife steel, including the uber-popular MagnaCut.
According to Syracuse.com,
Geddes, N.Y. — Crucible Industries warned workers Monday that it could close within months, putting the 158 workers at its steel plant in Geddes out of work.
The company filed a notice with the state saying it plans to close the specialty steel manufacturing plant at 575 State Fair Blvd. starting March 5, with the closing scheduled for completion on March 19.
Company President John Shiesley sent a letter to company emplyees last Thursday…
“…stating the company was facing “serious financial difficulties” and will likely file for financial reorganization under Chapter 11 of U.S. Bankruptcy Law, CNY Central reported.
A Chapter 11 filing could potentially allow the company to continue operating. However, Shiesley said if the company cannot find a suitable buyer, it will likely shut down in March.
“I regret that the company’s financial situation has deteriorated to the point that this notice is necessary,” said Shiesley, who has been president of the company since June 1, 2020.
This isn’t the first time Crucible has faced difficulty, having filed Chapter 11 in 2009. According to the Crucible Website:
On October 23, 2009 a private equity group purchased the operating assets of the Crucible Specialty Metals Division and formed Crucible Industries LLC.
Since reopening in November 2009, Crucible Industries is continuing the one hundred and thirty-three year tradition of high product quality, relentless customer service, and technical knowhow that the specialty metals industry has come to expect from Crucible.
This was posted by Dr. Larrin Thomas, inventor of MagnaCut, to the KnifeSteelNerds Instagram page…
It isn’t just MagnaCut, any steel with the prefix “CPM” (Crucible Powder Metal) is at risk for supply disruptions. While this is a potential blow to the knife industry, and Crucible is a major supplier, the effects will be felt far beyond our industry. Crucible makes specialty steels for the automotive, aerospace, and medical industries as well. I don’t have access to figures, but I would wager a guess that Crucible is more important to the knife industry than the knife industry is to Crucible.
This is a developing story, and I will update as appropriate. Look for more on these pages, and in the pages of the upcoming February issue next month.
Read the full article here
