Suntech medical equipment and supplies manufacturer Suntech is laying off 1,100 employees as it closes a facility in the United Kingdom that produced thousands of medical devices for the NFL, and the company said Thursday it is hiring people to help.
The Raiders have been on the brink of losing their home opener against the Carolina Panthers and are expected to be without star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and defensive end Mychal Kendricks for the rest of the season.
But the Raiders have avoided the same fate as many NFL teams.
They were forced to close a factory in China last year and cut production of some of its equipment, but were able to survive by building new equipment at the same time.
The company announced Thursday that it is layingoff 1,000 employees, which includes 1,600 workers at its facilities in England and the U.K. to reduce costs and ensure it can get more medical equipment to markets.
It said it will use the money to help the company expand operations and hire more people.
The Oakland Raiders and the Oakland Raiders in their annual season-ticket package in 2016.
The NFL said the Raiders plan to create a team-specific “health and wellness center” to offer free screenings and testing and to meet with local health departments.
The team also said it would establish a new health and wellness facility in a location near its home stadium, Raiders Stadium.
Raiders spokesman Brian D. Young said the company’s plans to move to an all-out, health-care-focused strategy was part of the team’s strategic planning process and reflected the company looking for ways to better support its franchise.
Oakland Raiders coach Jack Del Rio addresses reporters at the end of the 2016 NFL preseason at Oakland Coliseum.
Raiders owner Mark Davis said in a statement that “we are committed to the health and wellbeing of our players and fans, and we will do everything we can to help them stay healthy and stay healthy, especially with the current economic climate.”
Davis also said he is “very appreciative of the outpouring of support we have received from our players, fans, our business community and the rest, of us, throughout this process.”
Raiders fans wait to get in line at a StubHub Center to get into a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Fans hold signs as they wait for the start of the game against Miami Dolphins at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017.
A supporter holds a sign as he waits for the Raiders to leave the stadium after the first quarter against the Miami Dolphins in Oakland.
A fan holds a banner with a picture of Raiders players in Oakland during a preseason game against San Diego Chargers in Oakland on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Oakland., Calif.
Fan waits to get inside the stadium prior to the start to a preseason home game against Pittsburgh Steelers in Oakland , Calif., on Saturday, Aug., 29, 2017., Calif., ahead of the preseason game.
Supporters wait for an NFL preseason game in Oakland in 2017.
Raiders owner Donald Sterling (L) and general manager Reggie McKenzie listen as Raiders head coach Jack Barker speaks during the annual NFL owners meetings at the Venetian Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nev., Monday, Aug, 30, 2017.(AP Photo/John Locher)