CR Compressors LLC will shut down at the end of the year, according to officials from its parent company Emerson Climate Technologies.

Christine Linder from Flieshman-Hilliard, a public relations firm representing Emerson Climate Technologies, said employees have been notified about the plant’s closing. She said the reason the facility is ceasing its operations is due to a drop in demand.

“This difficult decision is due to a drop in demand for the reciprocating compressors supplied by the Hartselle plant,” Linder said. “The drop in demand is a result of the general decline in the economy, the stagnant housing and new home construction markets as well as the government regulated phase-out of R22 refrigerant. This decision is no reflection on the quality of the employees affected by this announcement, who have served our customers and the company well.”

Approximately 180 hourly employees are being permanently laid off due to the shutdown of assembly operations, which will take place in December.

Mayor Dwight Tankersley said he hated to see the business shut down and the employees lose their jobs.

“My thoughts and prayers go out to the employees who are losing their jobs,” Tankersley said. “I hope and pray that they will find a new job that they will enjoy doing. It’s hard to see a business like this that’s been around most of my life and now it’s closing.”

Linder said plans to cease assembly operations and the related workforce reductions were first announced to employees in February 2010. About 90 employees will remain to assist with the assembly shutdown and continue machining operations at the plant site.

Linder also added that the the building is up for sale, but the company doesn’t have a buyer to announce at this time.

Tankersley is optimistic that another industry will want to locate in the CR Compressors building.

“We are hopeful that some other company will see the its viability and will choose to locate there,” Tankersley said.