Portland, OR-based Precision Castparts Corp. has laid off 717 employees at two separate facilities, the Willamette Week reports.

PCC, which manufactures aerospace fasteners and other components, attributed the layoffs to COVID-19.

“We are experiencing an unprecedented pandemic due to the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak,” Precision Castparts stated.  “It is currently unknown when business will resume to normal.”

PCC operates a powerhouse fastener division that includes Cherry Aerospace, Air Industries and Shur-Lok.  PCC assembled its fastener division by acquiring SPS Technologies in 2003 for $893 million and airframe fastener maker AIC in early 2005 for $194 million.

PCC also manufactures thread rolling dies and header tooling for fastener machinery.

Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway acquired PCC in 2016 for $37.2 billion cash.  Web: Precast.com