Cleaning Equipment Manufacturer Nilfisk to Close Brooklyn Park Plant, Lay Off 105 Workers, But Plans New Twin Cities Office

Cleaning Equipment Manufacturer Nilfisk to Close Brooklyn Park Plant, Lay Off 105 Workers, But Plans New Twin Cities Office

BROOKLYN PARK, MN — Danish manufacturer Nilfisk has announced the permanent closure of its Brooklyn Park facility, resulting in the layoff of approximately 105 employees. The company, known for industrial vacuums and floor-cleaning machines, notified Minnesota officials of the shutdown of its U.S. manufacturing operations at 9435 Winnetka Avenue North.

The closure will occur in phases, with layoffs beginning December 5, 2025, and concluding June 30, 2026. Positions affected include engineers, technicians, assemblers, warehouse staff, and managers. Some employees are represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), Local 77.

Manufacturing Shifts to Mexico, Commercial Operations Stay Local

Nilfisk said the decision to close the Brooklyn Park plant is part of a broader global strategy aimed at streamlining operations, improving time-to-market, and delivering “a consistently superior customer experience.” Manufacturing of three industrial floor-cleaning machines will move to Nilfisk’s facility in Querétaro, Mexico, marking the end of the company’s U.S.-based production.

The 181,436-square-foot Brooklyn Park facility, which Nilfisk occupied in 2016, is currently listed for sale.

Commitment to Twin Cities with New Flagship Office

Despite the manufacturing shutdown, Nilfisk emphasized its continued commitment to the Twin Cities. The company plans to open a new U.S. commercial office in the Minneapolis metro area during the first half of 2026, aiming to retain and relocate approximately 75 to 100 commercial employees from Brooklyn Park.

Eapen Chacko, Nilfisk’s Americas executive vice president, expressed regret over the layoffs, saying, “The hardest part of this transition is saying goodbye to some of our colleagues in Brooklyn Park, whose commitment and contributions we deeply respect and appreciate.”

In addition to the new Twin Cities office, Nilfisk will open a state-of-the-art distribution center in Bentonville, Arkansas, by the end of 2025 to handle shipments of machines and spare parts.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is coordinating support for affected workers through its Rapid Response Team.

MinneapoliMedia