WEAVERVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Thermo Fisher Scientific plans to phase out operations at its Weaverville facility by the end of 2026, a move that could affect jobs at one of Buncombe County’s largest manufacturing employers, company officials confirmed.

The decision is part of an effort to adjust operations to meet customer demand and improve efficiency, the company said. Certain product lines produced at the site will be transferred to other Thermo Fisher facilities in the United States.

“Thermo Fisher Scientific continuously evaluates its global operations to identify opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiveness in meeting our customers’ needs,” the company said in a statement. “There are times when we must evolve our organization to remain in line with current customer demands.”

Thermo Fisher did not disclose how many employees work at the Weaverville site, how many jobs may be affected by the phase-out or when workers would be notified. The company also did not say whether employees would be offered transfers to other facilities or provided severance or job placement assistance.

The company said its priorities during the transition include maintaining business continuity and supporting employees “with care and respect.”

Under federal law, large employers are required to file Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or WARN, notices ahead of certain mass layoffs or plant closures. Phased reductions, however, can complicate when those requirements are triggered.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce said the closure was expected to impact 421 employees.

The first separation is expected to occur on Dec. 31, 2026, and the separations will continue through Dec. 31, according to an email from the NC Department of Commerce.