A flagging economy, sluggish markets in the metals industry, a need for streamlining and geography led to the decision to close Carpenter Technology Corp.'s Specialty Alloys Division warehouse in Hermitage, the company said Thursday.

The closing of Carpenter's stainless steel bar warehouse on Kirila Road will result in about two dozen workers being laid off.

"We have eight distribution centers in the United States. Unfortunately, Hermitage is the location that ends up eliminated,'' said Katharine Marshall, a Carpenter spokeswoman.

A specialty metals manufacturer and distributor based in Reading, Pa., Carpenter has endured a suffering global market and began reducing costs last fall, Ms. Marshall said.