AKRON, Ohio — Akron-based GOJO Industries, maker of Purell, has announced that it is cutting down from three shifts to two at its Cuyahoga Falls manufacturing facility.
In an email statement to 3News, GOJO Vice President of Strategic Communications Ray Hancart says the company is reducing the number of shifts because it no longer needs to produce 'at the unprecedented levels required at the peak of the pandemic.'
Hancart says the company is helping those employees who are impacted transition to other shifts or to 'their next opportunity outside GOJO.' He adds that GOJO does not anticipate having to make similar moves at its other manufacturing and distribution facilities.
"Decisions that negatively impact any of our team members are always difficult to make and are only made after careful consideration. We appreciate the contributions of all team members and wish those leaving GOJO success moving forward," he added.
GOJO, a family-owned business started in 1946 by husband-and-wife Goldie and Jerry Lippman, became an internationally significant company as the demand for Purell skyrocketed at the beginning of the COVID-19 last year.
Last fall, the company signed a two-year lease to occupy roughly 700,000 square feet of Cleveland's I-X Center, which they are using to ramp up production of their in-demand products.
As part of a live broadcast of NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt in Cleveland back in May, 3News' Russ Mitchell got an inside look at GOJO and spoke with CEO and president Carey Jaros.