Precision Castparts will furlough steel and titanium workers for a week, citing continued business downturn

PORTLAND — Precision Castparts, one of Oregon’s largest industrial manufacturers, has notified workers that it will shut down steel and titanium operations for a week beginning June 29.

The Portland company cited “further reductions in business” during the coronavirus outbreak, according to a message to employees viewed by The Oregonian/OregonLive.

The company said in April it would ” significantly ” cut its workforce due to falling demand. Earlier that month, it furloughed workers at its main Portland site.

Precision Castparts makes large metal components for airplanes, electrical generators and other industrial products. The aerospace industry has been devastated by the coronavirus outbreak, with air travel down 90% or more.

Precision Castparts was Oregon’s second-largest company before its $37 billion sale in 2016 to Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett’s investment firm. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest furloughs.

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 14.2% in April, the highest level on record. Layoffs were initially concentrated in the hospitality and retail sectors but have spread to other sectors as the effects of the coronavirus outbreak have spread across the economy.