Pull to refresh
Logo
Jerith Manufacturing to close Philadelphia factory, 61 jobs affected

Jerith Manufacturing to close Philadelphia factory, 61 jobs affected

Money Moves Philadelphia, PA local

Rent on the Northeast Philadelphia plant is set to nearly triple, pushing the 65-year-old fence maker to shift work to New Jersey and Tulsa

September 3rd, 2026: State posts Jerith WARN notice

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

Jerith Manufacturing, a Philadelphia aluminum fence maker that has operated since 1961, is closing its Northeast Philadelphia factory. The company filed a WARN notice with Pennsylvania on September 3, reporting 61 affected employees and a closure date of November 15.

The trigger is rent. The cost of the 445,000-square-foot facility on McNulty Road is expected to nearly triple starting May 1, making continued operation "economically impractical," according to general manager K. Robert Lomber. Twenty-four of the 61 workers will be offered positions at a New Jersey facility owned by parent company Ameristar Perimeter Security; the rest face layoffs.

Why it matters

Philadelphia loses a 65-year-old manufacturer and 61 jobs as the plant's rent nearly triples — a reminder that real estate costs can push out industrial work.

Monday: what changed in Philadelphia, PA

One short email a week with the openings, closings, permits and council votes we covered. Free. Unsubscribe in one click.

Questions about this story

Free account needed to ask — your question is kept and asked for you right after sign-up. Answers are public.

No questions yet — be the first to ask.

Key Indicators

61
Affected employees
Workers at Jerith's Philadelphia plant affected by the closure.
24
Workers offered NJ transfers
Employees offered positions at Ameristar's New Jersey facility.
$4.4M
Annual payroll
Jerith's annual payroll for its Philadelphia workers.
$140K
Annual tax revenue loss
Expected annual tax revenue Philadelphia will lose when the plant closes.
65
Years in operation
Jerith has operated in Philadelphia since 1961.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

Ever wondered what historical figures would say about today's headlines?

Sign up to generate historical perspectives on this story.

People Involved

Organizations Involved

Timeline

1961 May 2027

5 events Latest: September 3rd, 2026 · 1 month ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date
  1. Rent on Jerith facility nearly triples

    Upcoming Financial

    Rent on the 445,000-square-foot McNulty Road facility is expected to nearly triple, the trigger for the closure.

  2. Layoffs begin at Jerith plant

    Upcoming Layoffs

    Phased layoffs begin; 24 of 61 workers are offered transfers to Ameristar's New Jersey facility.

  3. State posts Jerith WARN notice

    Latest Regulatory filing

    Pennsylvania posts Jerith's WARN notice, which reports 61 affected employees and a November 15 closure date.

  4. Assa Abloy acquires Jerith

    Acquisition

    Swedish security giant Assa Abloy acquires Jerith, making it part of Ameristar Perimeter Security.

  5. Jerith Manufacturing founded

    Founding

    Jerith Manufacturing is founded in Philadelphia, making aluminum fences.

Scenarios

1

Jerith closes Philadelphia factory, 37 workers laid off

Likely Resolves by May 1, 2027

Discussed by: The Inquirer, citing the WARN notice

The closure proceeds as planned. Twenty-four workers transfer to Ameristar's New Jersey facility, and 37 are laid off in phases beginning November 15. The plant closes by spring 2027, and Philadelphia loses about $140,000 in annual tax revenue.

2

More than 24 Jerith workers transfer to New Jersey

Possible Resolves by May 1, 2027

Discussed by: The Inquirer (noted 24 offered positions)

Ameristar offers additional positions, or some workers who initially decline later accept. More than 24 of the 61 workers end up at the New Jersey facility, reducing the number of layoffs.

3

Jerith closure delayed past spring 2027

Unlikely Resolves by May 1, 2027

Discussed by: Uncertain; the WARN notice lists November 15, but the Inquirer reports closure by spring

The closure timeline slips. Layoffs take longer than expected, or the rent increase is negotiated, keeping the plant open past May 1.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

February 2016

Carrier Indianapolis plant closure (2016)

Carrier announced in February 2016 it would close its Indianapolis furnace plant and move about 1,400 jobs to Monterrey, Mexico. Then-president-elect Donald Trump negotiated with parent United Technologies, which agreed to keep about 800 jobs in exchange for $7 million in state tax incentives.

Then

About 800 jobs stayed in Indianapolis; the rest moved to Mexico. The deal was widely criticized as a one-off that didn't address broader manufacturing trends.

Now

The episode became a symbol of the limits of political intervention in corporate decisions. Carrier still moved many jobs later, and the plant eventually closed.

Why this matters now

Like Jerith, a manufacturer closing a plant and moving work, with the closure driven by cost considerations. Shows how corporate decisions about plant locations affect local communities.

2021

Nabisco Fair Lawn plant closure (2021)

Mondelez International announced in 2021 it would close the Nabisco plant in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, affecting 600 workers. The company had received $5 million in state tax incentives in 2011 to keep the plant open.

Then

The plant closed in 2022, with production consolidated to other Nabisco facilities. Workers and local officials protested the closure.

Now

The closure sparked criticism of tax incentives and corporate consolidation, and became a talking point in debates about corporate responsibility.

Why this matters now

Like Jerith, a large conglomerate closing a local plant and consolidating production at other facilities, despite prior investment in the community.

Sources

(2)