Master Lock first set up shop in Milwaukee in 1921, and the brand has had a footprint in Wisconsin that has continued for more than 100 years. However, it appears that legacy is coming to a rather sudden end.
Things started to change in May 2023, when the company announced plans to shutter Master Lock’s manufacturing operations in Milwaukee by March 2024. The company shifted work to other locations and external suppliers, and some 330 employees lost their jobs. While the company ceased manufacturing operations, it maintained its corporate headquarters in Oak Creek, a Milwaukee suburb.
Now, Master Lock is leaving Wisconsin entirely. On Wednesday, the company’s parent, Fortune Brands Innovations, announced the closure of its Oak Creek headquarters as it consolidates operations in Illinois…