Kayak maker closing plant

Kayak maker closing plant

Hemisphere Design Works' closure will result in the loss of 42 jobs. Courtesy city of Grand Rapids

A West Michigan kayak manufacturer is closing a third facility in the region and laying off 42 workers.

Muskegon-based Hemisphere Design Works (HDW) filed a notice with the state of Michigan on Jan. 27 that it plans to permanently close its facility at 2420 Remembrance Drive in Muskegon by March 26.

The closure will result in the loss of 42 jobs, effective between March 26 and April 8. The affected employees do not have bumping rights.

HDW in October announced it would be closing its facilities at 1790 and 1880 Sun Dolphin Drive in Muskegon and laying off 68 workers.

HDW was created from the May 2018 merger of KL Outdoor in Muskegon with Quebec-based GSC Technologies.

It makes a variety of products, such as kayaks, paddleboards, sport sleds and hunting blinds, under the brands Sun Dolphin, Future Beach, Evoke and Terrain.

The company opened an 18,000-square-foot headquarters facility in downtown Muskegon, at 700 Terrace Point Drive, in January 2018.