Honeywell To Close Rhode Island Plant By End Of Year

Manufacturing and distribution employees will be laid off, but non-production employees will be moved to Honeywell's nearby site in Smithfield.

CRANSTON, R.I. (AP) — Honeywell International Inc. has announced it will close its Cranston, RI plant by the end of next year.

The company, which makes safety equipment at the Cranston plant, said it will phase out operations starting later this year, ending in 2016. Manufacturing and distribution employees will be laid off, but non-production employees will be moved to Honeywell's Smithfield site, located 18 miles North.

Honeywell would not say how many workers it employs in Cranston. The company bought the Plainfield Pike plant from Norcross Safety Products LLC in 2008.

Cranston Mayor Allan Fung said he met with Honeywell executives two years ago to persuade them to stay.

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