M&S MANUFACTURING has been a central part of the Hudson Community for over six decades, but the announcement last week that the company is planning to close was greeted by many as an end of an era. About 135 employees will be idled by the closing; no final date has been set.

M&S Manufacturing Company announced last week that they are planning to close their doors after 61 years in the community. "Based on information we have right now, it is necessary to begin the process of ceasing operations," said Stacy Mellon, human resources director for the company. "We are in the process of meeting with customers and expect to have a better idea of the timeline for closing following those meetings. We would expect we would remain open for at least another 90 days. The company has and continues to explore selling the business, but at the present time we have nothing concrete. “About 135 employees will be idled by the closing." The company has sustained some very large losses in the past several years," Mellon said. She cited a number of various factors that led to the company's decline and likely closing, including pricing pressures, overseas competition, and health care costs. "Like any automotive related company, we are seeing the same pressures and problems that other auto related companies are dealing with," Mellon commented. M&S was founded here in 1941, and was mostly involved with defense contracting during World War II. Over the years the company grew to several hundred employees in a number of buildings, both here and in Morenci. However, in the past few years the company has been steadily downsizing. The most recent major cutback came last winter, when the company idled several buildings, concentrating operations in just four buildings, all but one in the company's main complex near the corner of M-34 and Munson Highway. M&S Manufacturing has been one of the largest suppliers of high-precision machined parts  in the world, according to the company's web site, making machine tolls for milling, staking, turning, grinding, thread rolling, drilling and tapping.  M&S's primary customers are Siemens, Bosch and TRW.

"I'm just sad to see it happen," said Mike Sanborn of Hudson Pharmacy. They've been a mainstay of the community for so long. It's not a good thing to see one of the industrial anchors of the community go. It's sad to see them go since they've done so many good things for Hudson over the years." "I am heartsick for M&S, the workers and their families and the community," said Ed Engle of Rima Manufacturing, the next largest locally owned manufacturer in the community. "M&S has supported this community with jobs, contributions to our infrastructures, enriching the lives of individual people and their communities, and it is just a sad, sad moment to have this era pass by us." "It's an upsetting thing," said Interim City Manager Kim Murphy. "I hope they can pull out of it and they won't be closing. You have to feel for the families. A lot of people in the community have worked for M&S, some of them for their entire lives." "There's an awful lot of community support," said David Munson of Lenawee Tomorrow, who played an important part in the recent decision by Hi-Lex Controls to expand their plant here. “Everybody I talk to is pulling for the company. Nobody wants the worst to happen. The word has been on the street for some time, but mostly the response has been, 'What can I do to help?' People are supporting M&S with their hearts. They've been quiet stewards of the community for an awful long time. They never sought a lot of publicity for it, but they did it." Munson said that he and his office are trying to think of ways to help, and looking for any signs of help available from the Michigan Economic Development Commission. "That's valuable real estate, valuable people, a good reputation in the market, an asset that someone can use. There's still a little time and we'll do all we can. "There's a lot of good going on in Hudson right now," he added. "There will be some more positive things happening. It's probably the hottest spot in the county right now."

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