Cray to idle 190 workers, about 14 percent of its staff

The supercomputer manufacturer has about 400 employees in Bloomington, but the effect on that office wasn't clear.

July 20, 2017 at 12:43AM
Cray Inc. recently celebrated its grand opening in the new Offices at MOA tower. One office display uses server racks.
Cray Inc. recently celebrated its grand opening in the new Offices at MOA tower. One office display uses server racks. (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Cray Inc., the supercomputer maker with roots and a major office in Minnesota, is laying off 190 workers, or about 14 percent of its workforce this week.

The move is expected to produce $25 million in annual savings for Seattle-based Cray.

Cray has 382 employees in Bloomington, where it is the lead tenant in an office tower at the Mall of America.

The number of Minnesota workers affected by the layoff wasn't disclosed.

Most of the cuts are effective on Friday, the company said.

"We are working to provide support for those people directly impacted by this decision. These employees have provided valuable contributions to Cray, and this decision was not easy or taken lightly," a company spokesman said via e-mail.

"After thorough analysis of the current market conditions and our existing cost structures, and adjusting for the hiring we need to do to support selective and strategic initiatives, we have made the difficult but necessary decision to implement a workforce rebalancing and restructuring," he said.

Cray develops software, and storage for supercomputing.

The company began as Cray Research in Chippewa Falls, Wis., in 1972 and opened its first Twin Cities location in 1973. Minneapolis for years was the site of Cray Research's main business office.

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