Wellsville: Former Dresser-Rand facility nearly empty, workers go their separate ways

In less than three weeks, the once productive and busy (former) Dresser-Rand facility in Wellsville will sit empty. On Friday, another set of employee's turned in their ID badges, exiting the Coats Street plant for the final time. This group, several dozen, are being relocated to Siemen's Olean facility. The plan called for this group to begin in Olean on Monday, but the COVID-19 virus has most working from home until further notice. One worker called Friday's departure from the office he worked at for decades "bittersweet." Yes, some tears were shed. 

Last month, thirty-two other workers left Coats Street. They realigned with North Carolina-based Curtiss-Wright. PM Research Inc. announced March 3rd that the company had entered into a lease agreement with the Steam & Air Solutions (SAS) business of Curtiss-Wright to utilize a portion of the office space located at Plant 2, 2475 Tarantine Boulevard in Wellsville.

That transition became effective March 16.

The remaining union workers with Siemens Government Technologies will leave the former Dresser-Rand plant for the final time on April 24th. Their futures are uncertain. 

When the company first announced two years ago it was leaving Wellsville, politicians at every level expressed outrage and vowed to do something. That something, for the most part, was too little, too late. By the end of April, the major manufacturing site in Wellsville will sit vacant.

When Siemens first announced its purchase of Dresser-Rand in 2014, Rep. Tom Reed said during a media conference call the deal was good news for Dresser-Rand and the region. Reed said (at the time) 

“this partnership is going to strengthen Dresser-Rand,” Reed said. "It will position Dresser-Rand to be in our communities for many years, if not generations, to come."

In July 2018, Reed attempted to keep the plant open by saying it was a national defense issue. Reed said, then

“We care not only about the well-being of our Wellsville residents but about the national security of our country. Wellsville Dresser-Rand employees have years of institutional knowledge that could not be replicated at another location."

In February, newly elected state Senator George Borrello laid blame at the feet of New York’s heavy handed “tax and regulate” policies.

On February 4th, Borrello also said “In the coming weeks, I will be working with state and local economic development officials to explore opportunities for attracting another employer to this site. Allegany County has many assets including a skilled workforce, educational institutions that are strengthening its jobs pipeline and a wonderful quality of life. That work starts today.”

As the slogan for many first responder agencies says...'Deeds, not words.'