News

Benchmark to close down its facility

By Scott Wagar

02/03/2015

Benchmark Electronics in Dunseith has informed their employees the company will be closing its doors.

On Monday, the plant’s 120 employees were notified that their jobs were being terminated. 

“This was a complete shock,” said one employee of the notifications that were given out to the staff. 

The Bottineau Courant contacted Benchmark in Dunseith, but the plant’s manager stated he could not comment on the closing, and directed the newspaper to Benchmark’s website to gain information. At the time the Courant went to press, Benchmark’s national headquarters had not contacted the Courant back on its closing. 

Sen. David O’Connell, who has received a number of phone calls about Benchmark’s closing, stated that he had checked on state documents filed by the company with the state’s attorney office, which stated that Benchmark has paid its fees through May, but the company didn’t give a reason why it is closing the plant’s doors in Dunseith.  

The closing of Benchmark brings concern to Bottineau considering a number of Bottineau residents are employed there.

The city’s government also has concerns about the closing and what it could do to the economy of Bottineau, especially now considering that a number of stores in town have or will be closing their businesses, leaving empty storefronts on Main Street.    

According to Benchmark’s website, the plant in Dunseith have services that include engineering, product DF(x) prototyping and ICT/FCT development.

Manufacturing services include PCB assembly and test, system assembly and test, flex circuit assembly and test, precision electromechanical assembly and custom assembly and test equipment. Fulfillment services include product distribution and warranty service and repair. 

Benchmark’s website also stated that its company has 19 sites worldwide in nine different countries.