A U.S. company that manufactures and distributes wood mouldings plans to end its Baltimore operations and lay off 74 workers by mid-June, the state Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation said Thursday.
American Forest Products LLC, which grew out of a Sacramento firm established in 1970, opened its Montgomery Park offices and warehouse in 2013, after relocating its service and logistics division from Hanover. In addition to its distribution business, it has manufacturing and wholesale divisions.
The Baltimore locations are expected to close by June 21, according to notice provided to the state under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act.
Company CEO Matthew Hagen said in an email, "AFP lost its Home Depot business and is initiating a downsizing across all of its locations and is selling assets as part of the downsizing."
Home Depot spokesman Stephen Holmes said a new Home Depot vendor is expected to take over American Forest Products' operations and facilities in Baltimore.
"We don't expect job loss," he said.
A unit of the firm, the New Zealand wood processor Southern Cross Forest Products, went into receivership last year amid high debt and other troubles.