J&E Companies, a precision machining and fabrication company based in Plymouth, is closing all its Minnesota locations. That means about 45 employees have been laid off from its Lakeville plant, according to a Federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) notice. About 70 employees have been laid off from its Plymouth headquarters, and 30 from its Shakopee outpost.

The notice points to “financial difficulties and circumstances.” Layoffs began June 2, with some employees possibly seeing retention “for a limited period of time,” according to a letter sent to the Department of Employment and Economic Development last Monday. No affected workers were unionized.

J&E could not be reached immediately for comment or further information.

Founded in 1972, J&E manufactures precision metal components and other products while offering metalworking services, according to its website. Its client base includes aerospace, agricultural, commercial, and medical players, among others.

The letter stated J&E’s efforts to stay open “had the potential of permitting operations to continue, including through a potential sale of the business which could have resulted in the continued employment of J&E’s employees. However, those efforts failed shortly before the issuance of this notice.”

Affected positions range from plant manager and welder to operations supervisor and account manager.

Along with facilities in Minnesota, the company has a location in Wisconsin and another in Mexico. J&E’s website counts employment of about 325.

The company’s current iteration resulted from J&E Manufacturing’s acquisition by Willis & Smith Capital and First Capital Partners in 2022. That integrated J&E with a Wisconsin-based precision machining company, R&B Grinding.

9:27 a.m., June 10: This story has been updated to include a second WARN notice received the morning of June 10.