Conn Selmer, Inc., a major band and orchestral instrument manufacturer, has confirmed the shutdown of its plant in Eastlake, Ohio. In January, the company stated a tentative closure of the facility. 150 employees will be laid off due to the closure.
Conn-Selmer to Close Eastlake Facility
Conn Selmer filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) notice with the state of Ohio on April 9. The company stated that they are permanently closing and laying off employees at the Eastlake facility located at 34199 Curtis Blvd, Eastlake, OH 44095.
The closure and layoff are expected to take effect on June 30, 2026. The company also stated that employees can contact the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. They can file for unemployment benefits and to inquire about job placement, retraining, or other resources available.
According to the WARN notice, multiple factors contributed to the decision to close. The company said the facility has experienced repeated financial losses, as it struggled to compete with lower-cost manufacturers in Asia.
To continue operations, Conn Selmer invested millions of dollars to improve productivity and efficiency, as cited in the filing.
The company also outsourced products that were not profitable, and engaged in the decision-making process with the Union representing employees. Despite these efforts, the financial losses continued to grow.
In January 2026, the company revealed plans to close the Eastlake facility by June. After the closure, Conn Selmer plans to consolidate operations at the brass instrument facility in Elkhart, Indiana, and part of the production will be shifted to offshore locations.
Conn Selmer’s Craftsmanship and Heritage
Conn Selmer is a leading name in musical instrument manufacturing in the country. Some of the famous brands of musical instruments owned by the company are Bach, Conn, King, Holton, Leblanc, Ludwig, Musser, and Selmer.
The company has a long association with the city of Elkhart, Indiana. The company and its heritage brands have been making brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments that are played by students, educators, and professional musicians worldwide for over a century.
Currently, Conn-Selmer has production and distribution plants in the United States and is the North American distributor of some foreign brands. The company keeps up with music programs and performers across the globe through its brand network and education programs.
The closure of the Eastlake facility is aimed at enhancing competitiveness and strategizing its presence in the market to match the prevailing conditions.
