Rohm and Haas Laying Off 900, Closing Plants

PHILADELPHIA-Locally based chemical manufacturer Rohm and Haas is laying off 900 employees across all of its regions and will shut down some plants as well. The company, which employs about 16,500 and has over 100 facilities in 27 countries, did not specify where plants would shut down.

Last June, Rohm and Haas, which is in the midst of a merger with Dow Chemical Co., announced that it was laying off 937 workers, mostly in North America, in efforts to save $110 million in 2010. This latest move is expected by management to save $90 million in pre-tax run-rate charges this year.

Besides closing some plants, Rohm and Haas will also restrict production times at others. The company has Pennsylvania plants in Philadelphia, Bristol, Croydon, Reading and Spring House.