Hubbell To Close Newtown, Bethel Plants

NEWTOWN, CT — Shelton-based electric product manufacturer Hubbell Inc. will close its Newtown plant over the next six months and move most of the work to its Puerto Rico facility.

The plant currently employs 140 people, according to Hearst Connecticut Media.

Hubbell opened in the late 1800's as an early manufacturer of electrical components. Since then it has expanded and now has more than 75 brands. It had more than $4.5 billion in total sales during 2018, according to the company's annual report.

The company's Burndy Bethel plant will also close, according to the Connecticut Department of Labor. The facility employs 54 people and layoffs are scheduled to take place between Aug. 2 and Dec. 31.

Hubbell renewed its lease for its Shelton headquarters, according to Hearst. The company will still employ more than 650 people in Connecticut even after the two plants close.

Hubbell has offices and plant locations in across the country and globe including several states, Puerto Rico, China, Mexico, Canada and Brazil.

Connecticut had an average of 160,317 manufacturing jobs during 2018, according to the state DOL. That number has been roughly consistent since 2010. The state saw losses in the sector from 2011 to 2016 and then saw an increase in 2017 and 2018. In 2007 there were nearly 188,000 manufacturing jobs. Back in 1990 the state had nearly 300,000 manufacturing jobs.

Gun manufacturer Stag Arms announced it would move out of its New Britain facility to a community that has more support for the firearm industry.

Read the full Hearst report here.