Johnson Matthey Issues Layoff Notes

Johnson Matthey Electronics has issued 60-day layoff notices to its entire Cheney work force.

Brent Bollong, general manager of the facility, said, however, there are no plans to close the plant. Bollong did not say how many workers would lose their jobs.

Johnson Matthey employs about 250 workers, down from a high of more than 650 when the company expanded into its Cheney facility in 1997.

Bollong noted the technology of packaging microprocessors is changing while the consumer computer market continues to shift to sub-$1,000 PCs.

Johnson Matthey’s Cheney plant makes thermal plates used to dissipate heat that builds up in high-speed desktop computers.