The fourth-largest employer in Lee County, Static Control Components Inc., will lay off 238 employees and close four manufacturing facilities in Sanford, according to a notice filed with the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

Two hundred and thirteen of the affected employees are currently working in the manufacturing facilities that will close, and 13 are employees at Static Control’s headquarters in Sanford.

Their last day of work will be Dec. 12.

Affected positions vary but include operations-related roles such as cartridge assemblers, machine operators and quality control auditors along with other more administrative roles in departments such as housekeeping, communications and legal.

Founded in Sanford in 1986, Static Control manufactures technology used in the production of ink jet and laser cartridges for printers.

According to the filing, the company will be shutting down most of its manufacturing operations, but will continue administrative and non-manufacturing activities at their four remaining facilities in Sanford.

Static Control employs more than 1,000 people in 25 offices around the world, and is Lee County’s fourth-largest employer.

In 2017, the company was responsible for 2.94 percent of the county’s total employment, according the Lee County’s Comprehensive Financial Report from last year.

This will be the first major layoff of 2018 in Lee County.