Katana lays off 14 in Ephrata

EPHRATA — Wind tower manufacturer Katana Summit, LLC in Ephrata temporarily laid off 14 people Thursday.

The layoffs are due to the “continuing market downturn caused by the economic crisis,” stated company President/CEO Kevin Strudthoff.

The company plans to bring back the employees as soon as market conditions allow, but he said he wasn’t sure when that is.

“We’re doing everything we can to get them back to work as soon as possible,” Strudthoff said.

The Ephrata plant now employees just more than 100 people, he said.

“We firmly believe this will be a temporary situation,” stated Katana Chairman Darrell Lehmann. “Given the 2009 stimulus package and renewable energy  legislation, we anticipate a strong and swift return of wind energy projects and the resulting tower orders.”

Katana last laid off 21 people in Ephrata in March, citing a weakened economy. Those layoffs were permanent, Strudthoff said.

— Staff report