(AP) — A southeast Kansas factory that produces clay pipe will close Dec. 31 after more than a century in operation.

Officials of the Pittsburg plant of Mission Clay confirmed the plan Monday.

Office manager Dennis Gatewood says about a dozen of the plant’s 15 employees will lose their jobs. Three will stay on to help with the closing.

Mission Clay also has plants in California, Arizona and Texas and will continue to make urethane products.

The Pittsburg factory was founded in 1899 as Dickey Clay and made hollow tile brick, sewer tiles and other products. The plant was bought by Mission Clay in 1987 to help supply large pipe to the West Coast market.