RR closing plant foundry

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Rolls-Royce North America is closing the foundry at its Pascagoula plant and expects to lose 24 of the 47 employees it has there. The plant casts and hones ship propellers, and the downsizing will take place over the next 18 months. "The shipbuilding and ship repair business is shrinking and our customers are looking for steep price reductions," said Joel Reuter, vice president of communications for Rolls Royce North America. While the plant won't pour the castings for huge ship propellers, they will be brought to the facility for machining from other foundries. The Pascagoula plant has been in business for decades and in the early 2000s added the high-end machining operations. Rolls-Royce also operates outdoor jetliner engine test stands at Stennis Space Center, Miss. (Source: Sun Herald, Mississippi Press, 06/26/14)