Master Lock's world headquarters in Oak Creek is closing, jobs relocating to Illinois

Master Lock’s world headquarters in Oak Creek is closing, jobs relocating to Illinois

Posted by author January 23, 2025 Jobs

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Master Lock’s world headquarters in Oak Creek is closing, affecting the 100-plus employees who work at the facility.

The closure is part of a consolidation of offices by Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc., the parent company of Master Lock, to a new headquarters in Deerfield, Illinois, according to a Jan. 22 news release from Fortune Brands Innovations.

The announcement comes less than a year after Master Lock’s Milwaukee plant closed for good. The company has a 100-plus year history in the Milwaukee area.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support of the community, which has played a significant role in the success of Master Lock and Fortune Brands Innovations, as well as for the talented team we have in Oak Creek,” a spokesperson for Fortune Brands Innovations told the Journal Sentinel. “We are committed to treating them with care as they make the decision that is right for them.”

How many jobs are affected in Oak Creek?

The spokesperson said about 120 associates are employed at the Oak Creek headquarters, 6744 S. Howell Ave. They are all being offered the chance to keep their relocated jobs ― whether that means they move closer to the new headquarters or choose to make the approximate hour-long commute to Deerfield.

“We would love for all of our highly talented associates to remain with (Fortune Brands Innovations) when their job moves to the new headquarters,” the spokesperson said. “However, we understand that many will choose to remain in their current city, and for those who elect not to move with their job, we are making sure they are supported with benefits and resources, including severance pay, COBRA and outplacement services.”

For those employees who choose to stay on, the company spokesperson said Fortune Brands Innovations is offering relocation assistance, “and in most cases, an increase in base pay to help with the higher cost of living.”

When is the Oak Creek headquarters shutting down and why?

The target time frame for job relocation is July through September 2025. Any employees who choose not to remain with the company will be given a minimum 90-day advanced notice of their last day of work, the spokesperson said.

Fortune Brands Innovations Chief Executive Officer Nicholas Fink said in the release that bringing everyone together at a single campus “will help us to bring innovations and products to life faster, while also making the organization more efficient and aligned.”

The company is projecting it will have space for over 1,000 employees at the new Deerfield headquarters by the end of 2027, according to the release.

Master Lock, founded in 1921, moved to Oak Creek in 2002.

“In 2017, they set out to build a world headquarters that would give the company the tools and technology needed to develop padlocks and security products that provide peace of mind for customers,” the City of Oak Creek says on its website. “Master Lock renovated its 120,000-square-foot world headquarters in Oak Creek to include state-of-the-art industrial design, engineering, and prototyping labs.”

Fortune Brands Innovations’ portfolio includes Master Lock, Moen, House of Rohl, Aqualisa, SpringWell, Therma-Tru, Larson, Fiberon, SentrySafe, and Yale residential.

Contact Erik S. Hanley at erik.hanley@jrn.com. Like his Facebook page, The Redheadliner, and follow him on X @Redheadliner.