Fresenius to Lay Off 56 Workers from Orange County Distribution Center

CHESTER, N.Y. – Fresenius USA Manufacturing, a medical equipment manufacturer, plans to lay off 56 employees from its distribution plant in Chester, New York.

Fresenius will permanently lay off several dozen employees from its Orange County plant starting April 28, according to a Worker Adjustment and Restraining Notification (WARN) notice filed with the state’s Department of Labor. Businesses are required to provide early warnings of closures and layoffs to impacted workers through New York’s WARN Act.

Headquartered in Germany, Fresenius Medical Care provides equipment and services for individuals undergoing dialysis treatment. The Chester plant layoffs are part of a broader round of cuts Fresenius has made across the country, including in Oregon , Texas , and Wisconsin .

Kirsten Stratton, a spokesperson for Fresenius Medical Care, told Radio Catskill the decision is part of its decision to shift some of its operations to logistics company Ryder. Stratton sent the statement below.

“As part of our ongoing transformation, Fresenius Medical Care is taking further steps to optimize Supply Chain Operations in North America. Following a comprehensive review of our Final Mile Delivery network, we have made the strategic decision to transition these operations to Ryder, a leader in transportation and logistics, effective April 28, 2026. This transition enables us to focus on areas where we can deliver the greatest value to our patients and customers. We are working closely with Ryder to ensure a smooth process and are committed to supporting our employees throughout. Our goal is to retain as many CDL drivers (Commercial Drivers License) as possible and provide resources to help impacted colleagues explore future opportunities – whether with Ryder or within Fresenius Medical Care.

These changes will help us build a more agile, data-driven transportation network that better meets the evolving needs of our business and the communities we serve.”

Town of Chester Supervisor Brandon Holdridge said that the layoffs are a great loss for Chester and Orange County. “Every job lost is a productive member of the community lost. It also means more hardship to everyone and their family’s that depend on those jobs. I hope they are able to find somewhere else to work and I hope this doesn’t negatively affect our local economy too drastically.”

The WARN notice was posted on the state’s labor department website on February 18.

Radio Catskill asked Fresenius which departments would be affected by the layoffs, whether employees would be eligible for benefits, and whether the Chester site is at risk of closing. The company declined to comment further.

Image: Fresenius dialysis products and services (Photo Credit: Fresenius Medical Care)

Update: The article has been updated to include a comment from Town of Chester Supervisor Brandon Holdridge.