Moog Music parent company inMusic has laid off a number of staff members at its main production factory in Asheville, North Carolina.
According to Music Tech, 30 staff members lost their jobs with the layoffs primarily affecting Moog’s production unit. In a statement, the company confirmed that it had been forced to let go of people, and added that it "hasn’t been easy for anyone."
Early reports around the layoffs also suggested that inMusic would be shifting production of Moog instruments to a manufacturing plant in Taiwan. Moog’s statement has since said that the company’s main headquarters will remain in Asheville, but that additional manufacturing support will come from overseas.
The statement continued: "These changes are necessary for the future of Moog as we continue to face the ongoing challenges of manufacturing electronic instruments in America. We have a talented group of employees in Asheville who are committed to bringing you the best-sounding electronic instruments in the world. We’re here because we love these instruments, and we will continue to stay focused on developing inspiring musical tools for our creative community."
Moog Music opened its headquarters in Asheville in 2011, and its employee base took a 49 percent ownership of the company in 2015. They were, however, bought out by inMusic when it acquired Moog earlier this year.
You can read Moog Music’s full statement here.
