WEAVERVILLE — Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced plans to phase out operations at its Weaverville manufacturing facility, a move that will result in the permanent elimination of 421 jobs and deliver a significant blow to one of Buncombe County's smaller municipalities.
The global life sciences company confirmed it will wind down the facility at 275 Aiken Road by December 31, 2027, with layoffs affecting workers across manufacturing, engineering, quality assurance, maintenance, management, and administrative departments beginning December 31, 2026.
Thermo Fisher said the decision reflects efforts to align production with shifting customer demand by transferring existing product lines to other U.S.-based facilities. No union representation exists at the Weaverville site, and employees have no bumping rights under the closure plan.
Weaverville Town Manager Scottie Harris said the announcement arrived without advance notice from the company, disrupting municipal budget planning at a critical time of year.
"This announcement has certainly created challenges for our budget process," Harris said. "We are working to establish direct communication with Thermo Fisher and are actively engaging our economic development committee to assess the long-term impacts on the town."
Weaverville, with a population of approximately 3,600, relies on a modest commercial and industrial sector.
State and county economic development officials may be drawn into discussions about potential incentives to attract replacement employers to the Aiken Road site or the broader Weaverville area.
Workers affected by the closure may be eligible for federal Trade Adjustment Assistance or services through the NCWorks Career Center system, according to the Department of Commerce. Thermo Fisher Scientific officially filed a WARN notice with the North Carolina Department of Commerce on January 8, 2026.
Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced plans to permanently close its Weaverville facility at 274 Aiken Road by the end of 2027, resulting in 421 layoffs. The company says it is realigning product lines with customer demand by shifting operations to other U.S. facilities. Weaverville town leaders say the announcement has disrupted budget planning and are seeking direct dialogue with the company.