Stryker Shuttering South Carolina Plant

Stryker acquired the North Charleston surgical lighting systems plant in 2014 as part of its purchase of Berchtold Holding AG.

Chris Newmarker

A Stryker plant in North Charleston, SC, will shut down by the end of 2016, a Stryker spokesman confirmed to Qmed.

The Post and Courier of Charleston initially discovered the news through a notification to employees at the facility, which makes surgical lighting systems and other operating room equipment. 

The plant's operations will transition to Stryker's existing manufacturing network, said company spokesman Jo K. Hawk, who did not say how many employees are involved.

"Stryker has a strong legacy of delivering results, and we are constantly evaluating our business to ensure that our resources are aligned to drive growth, meet the needs of our customers, and increase operating efficiencies in a complex global environment," Hawk said.

A South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce spokesman was not immediately aware of a layoff notification.

There were about 115 employees at the plant in 2012, when then-owner Berchtold Holding AG threw a downtown Charleston bash to celebrate the German company's 90th anniversary, according to The Post and Courier. At that point, the facility had grown into Berchtold's North American headquarters.

Stryker acquired Berchtold in 2014 for $172 million.

Despite the job cuts expected from the South Carolina plant closure, Stryker (Kalamazoo, MI) has actually been steadily growing its workforce in recent years, according to its most recent annual report. It had about 26,000 employees at the end of 2014, up from about 20,000 employees at the end of 2010.

Like what you're reading? Subscribe to our daily e-newsletter.

Chris Newmarker is senior editor of Qmed and MPMN. Follow him on Twitter at @newmarker.

Like what you're reading? Subscribe to our daily e-newsletter.