Evonik Degussa Corp. on Wednesday cut more than 7 percent of its workforce at Tippecanoe Laboratories. The company said the decision to cut 45 positions, from the workforce recently reported as having about 600 people, is part of an initiative being rolled out across its health care manufacturing sites, including Tippecanoe Laboratories, which makes active pharmaceutical ingredients. Affected employees will receive a severance package and outplacement services. Keith Baumann, director of human resources, said cuts were made across the board at Tippecanoe Labs, not from specific departments. He declined to provide specifics about the salaries of those impacted or how much the company will save. “The transformation of our Lafayette facility is necessary in today’s marketplace, and it in no way reflects on the performance of the outstanding Tippecanoe Laboratories team,” Baumann said. “We recognize this decision affects our employees and the Lafayette community and as a long-standing member of the community, we are committed to minimizing any impact.” Evonik Industries AG, based in Essen, Germany, took over Tippecanoe Laboratories in 2010. The plant previously was owned by Eli Lilly and Co. At the time of the acquisition, Evonik agreed to retain Eli Lilly’s then-workforce of 700.
