Zodiac Seat Shells in Santa Maria laying off another 205 workers
Zodiac Seat Shells will lay off 205 additional workers at its Santa Maria facility, according to filings with the California Employment Development Department.
The filing said the layoffs are expected to start Oct. 26. In April, Zodiac announced plans to lay off 168 employees in Santa Maria starting in June.
Zodiac Seat Shells, a subsidiary of France-based Zodiac Aerospace, has been hampered for months by overcrowding at the factory due to an unexpected surge in demand for new aircraft from companies like Boeing and Airbus.
Between 2011 and 2013, Zodiac Aerospace more than doubled in size, growing from 485 employees in 2011 to 1,185 in 2013. Today, Zodiac Aerospace Seat Shells is the fifth largest employer in Santa Barbara County, employing about 2,300 people between Zodiac Seat Shells and a second subsidiary, Zodiac Cabin Interiors.
• Contact Philip Joens at pjoens@pacbiztimes.com.
