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September 22nd, 2009
- Closures
Paris France - Nexans axes 400 jobs, shuts Chauny production unit
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| Nexans SA, the world's biggest cable maker, said last week it will shed some 400 jobs in France and shut a production unit in a move to reorganize its activities, hard hit by the economic crisis. The group aims to reduce the activities of Nexans France and Nexans Copper France to cap costs. "This project aims to restore their competitiveness and ensure their future in a market... hard hit by the economic crisis," the company said in a statement. As part of the project, 387 layoffs will take place in the production units of Clichy (Paris), Fumay (eastern France), Jeumont (northern France), Lyon (southeast France) Mehun (central France) and the Chauny production unit in Northern France which will be closed. Some 50 jobs will also be created in Nexans France and Nexans Copper France.
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September 12th, 2009
- Closures
Maputo Mozambique - Arcelor-Mittal shuts its Mozambique rod mill
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| The world's largest steel company, Arcelor-Mittal, has closed its steel rolling mill in Maputo, allegedly because of the international financial crisis. The National Director of Industry, Sidonio dos Santos, told Mozambique News Agency AIM that it was the fall in the international price of steel, and of the iron rods that are the factory's main product, that had dictated the closure. "The price of these goods on the international market has fallen, which makes producing them unprofitable", said Santos. "The costs of production are high, and the price does not compensate for them".
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August 29th, 2009
- Closures
Georgetown South Carolina - ArcelorMittal Georgetown Steel will now remain closed as Union rejects company’s offer
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| Steelworkers Union members in Georgetown Wednesday.rejected the latest offer from ArcelorMittal, saying conditions of the offer would not allow them to make a living. The exact totals the Wednesday evening's vote have not been released, but the move by union members leaves the future of the mill uncertain. The rejection was announced less than an hour after polls closed at 6 p.m. ArcelorMittal had approached the Steelworkers Union with a new proposal to have a 32-hour workweek during the economic downturn, said President James Sanderson, of United Steelworkers of America Local 7898. Sanderson said Tuesday, the mill would shut down forever if the offer was rejected. A representative for ArcelorMittal could not be reached for comment Wednesday. If the union members had approved the deal it would have meant the mill could reopen on Thursday. And start making steel in another 6 to 8 weeks.
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August 11th, 2009
- Closures
Clarksdale Mississippi - Bekaert shuts down Delta Wire Clarksdale
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| Clarksdale’s Delta Wire officially announced Wednesday that they will be shutting down operations effectively immediately, according to the plant’s manager, Gary Downey.
Downey said the 76 employees working at the Clarksdale plant were informed Wednesday morning they no longer have jobs. According to Downey, all employees will be on a paid leave of absence lasting through Oct. 7. The general manager said an outside company will be coming in to assist the laid off workers in career management skills and helping them transition to new jobs.
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July 22nd, 2009
- Closures
St Louis Missouri - Belden announces plans to close plant in Leominster Massachusetts
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| Belden announced Tuesday plans to cease production activities at one of its manufacturing plants located in Leominster, Massachusetts by July 2010. The facility manufactures wire and cable products for enterprise applications throughout the United States. The production will be moved to other existing Belden manufacturing facilities located in Leominster, Massachusetts, Monticello, Kentucky, and Nogales, Mexico. There will be approximately 170 associates affected by these actions who will be eligible for severance benefits from the Company.This action is part of the restructuring initiative the Company announced in December 2008.
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July 8th, 2009
- Closures
Georgetown South Carolina - Georgetown steel mill prepares for total shutdown
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| With just days left to go until a total shutdown of the Georgetown steel mill, production of steel wire rod has already ceased, said Steelworkers Union Local 7898 President James Sanderson on Monday. The plant is scheduled to stop operations and have all inventory shipped out by Saturday. Production employees remained on the job Monday, but were assigned clean-up duties for the next several days, Sanderson said. The last steel product was made last week, he said. Meanwhile, inventory is being shipped out at least until July 12, Sanderson said. Some employees in the shipping department could be required to work a short time after July 12 to ship remaining inventory. "We still have people working, but there is no production," Sanderson said. "There is no steel being made."
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June 11th, 2009
- Closures
Scriba New York - Oswego Wire Inc closes facility letting remaining workers go as plant in India ramps up
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| In light of a squalid economy, Oswego Wire Inc. will be closing its doors at some point between the end of June and the end of July. The end of operation at the Oswego-based facility, which employs 22 people, will occur despite vast improvements by the workers and wire product manufacturer since a wave of layoffs took place at the plant in September. At that time Oswego Wire let go more than half its workforce. The company, based in Central New York State, will move some of its manufacturing operations to Indiana. Fifty-three workers were fired in the town of Scriba, which has an overall population of 7,300. Those losing their jobs will be given severance packages that include salary and benefits. The 34-acre plant off county Route 1, just east of the city of Oswego, will remain open with about 40 employees. "Given the choice between closing and downsizing, I'll pick downsizing any day," said L. Michael Treadwell, executive director of Operation Oswego County. The county will assist the furloughed workers with job searches, resume development and other employment-seeking services, Treadwell said.
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June 10th, 2009
- Closures
Tampa Florida - Gerdau Ameristeel announces suspension of production and mill closures in U.S.
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| Gerdau Ameristeel Corporation announced today that it is suspending production at its Sayreville, New Jersey steel mill and closing its rolling mill in neighboring Perth Amboy, New Jersey due to lower demand for its products resulting from the downturn in the economy. The company said these actions are expected to occur gradually over the next several months. The company indicated that it would restart operations at the Sayreville facility when business conditions warrant. The company is also entering into discussions with the United Steel Workers regarding the potential closure of the Company's steel mill located in Sand Springs, Oklahoma.
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June 3rd, 2009
- Closures
Singapore - Carmel shuts down Penang plant.
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| Carmel Group, an integrated provider of electronic manufacturing services (EMS), closed down its subsidiary in Bukit Minyak, Penang, leaving 200 workers jobless. Of the 200 workers at the Scarmel Penang subsidiary,120 of them were locals. They lodged a report with the State Manpower Department on May 18. On May 13, they were notified by the management about the immediate closure. However, they have yet to receive their remuneration since April.
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May 30th, 2009
- Closures
Brantford Ontario - Shut down of Långshyttan wire mill only temporary
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| Steel Business Briefing reported Thursday May 21 that High-speed steel producer Erasteel is planning to mothball its wire-drawing plant in Sweden for one year, according to a report in local media. In response to a request from wirenews for confirmation Erasteel said that "We have 2 workshops in Långshyttan: 1 big for hot rolling of wire rod and 1 small for cold drawing of wire. To answer your question, it is only a temporary closing of the activity in the small one. Editors comment: Steel making at Långshyttan Sweden has long tradition dating back to the 15th century.
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May 14th, 2009
- Closures
Georgetown South Carolina - ArcelorMittal closes Georgetown steel for now
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| The South Carolina steel mill is shutting down and laying off 242 workers until the market for steel improves. ArcelorMittal says the shutdown is part of its move to temporarily cut global production of steel by 45 percent. Company spokesman Adam Warrington says the steel company is working with the local United Steelworkers to help the workers and their families make it through the shutdown and hopes to bring many of the employees back whenever the mill reopens.
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May 7th, 2009
- Closures
East Longmeadow Massachusetts - Coleman Cable in E Longmeadow closing
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| Coleman Cable will shut down later this month, leaving 70 people without a job. The business has been around since 1985 under another name, Spectrum Wire. Coleman Cable bought that company in 2001, according to Paula Moreau, who works in the human resources department. Here's the internal release sent to employees back in March: Today we announced plans to the employees at our East Longmeadow manufacturing and distribution facility that we will be closing the facility on May 15, 2009. We find it necessary to take this unfortunate action in order to align our manufacturing capacity and cost structure with the reduced volume levels resulting from the current economic environment. Between now and May 15, the East Longmeadow production will be transitioned to our East facility in Bremen, IN, with our Waukegan, IL and Texarkana, AR facilities providing backup capacity.
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April 16th, 2009
- Closures
Brussels Belgium - ArcelorMittal continues to cut production.
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| ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steel maker, said on Wednesday it would continue production cuts in Europe in the light of exceptional economic conditions. It insisted all the cuts were temporary and that production would be restarted as swiftly as possible when market conditions improved. The announcement followed a meeting between senior management and the European works council in Luxembourg. One union official present at the meeting said ArcelorMittal planned to shut four more of its flat carbon blast furnaces, which would take the number operating in Europe down to 11 from a total of 25. "It's a catastrophe," he said, adding the four furnaces affected were at Liege and Ghent in Belgium and at Florange and Marseille in France.
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April 2nd, 2009
- Closures
Jewett City, Connecticut - Work ceases at two International Wire Group plants.
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| International Wire Group Inc., the Griswold company that employed 60 people and manufactured wire and cable, has halted operations at two locations . The company announced on its Web site last week that it would idle two plants, one in Jewett City and one in Littleton, New Hampshire. The company cited "continued weak customer demand" in aerospace and electronic/data communications markets in the first quarter of 2009 as one reason for the production declines. Customers will be served by International Wire's 13 other U.S facilities, the company said.
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February 23rd, 2009
- Closures
Griswold Connecticut - International Wire Group's Wyre Wynd on verge of closing.
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| Local and state officials are scrambling to avert the closure of Griswold~{!/~}s last industrial business. Wyre Wynd Corp., a wire manufacturer that once employed about 350 people, may close if it~{!/~}s unable to cut energy costs, First Selectman Philip Anthony said. Bills have been introduced into the General Assembly by state Rep. Steve Mikutel, D-Griswold, and state Sen. Andrew Maynard D-Stonington, aimed at doing that, Anthony said. On prospects for passage, he would only say, ~{!0~}I~{!/~}m cautiously optimistic.~{!1~} The work force at Wyre Wynd~{!/~}s 77 Anthony St. plant has been cut to about six, said Mary Roy, an accounts receivable/billing department employee whose job was eliminated Jan. 23. Some former employees are expecting the plant to shut for good. "They took away most of the machines," said Roy, who began working at Wyre Wynd in 1976. "If they~{!/~}re going to stay open, why would they do that?"
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February 11th, 2009
- Closures
Budapest Hungary - EWCS to close plant in Hungary
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 Japan based Cables harnesses manufacturer Euro Wire and Cable Services (EWCS) will close down its plant in Tatabánya, Hungary. All 174 employees will be affected, and layoffs will start in March/April. The Hungarian unit has supplied the automotive and medical equipment industries since 1997. The sharp decline in automotive industry related orders, is reason for the decision to close the plant.
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February 10th, 2009
- Closures
Hickory North Carolina - Corning Cable Systems to close North Carolina plant
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| Corning Cable Systems will close its Optical Assembly Plant by the end of this year, putting an undetermined number of people out of work. The plant's hardware and equipment technology and division engineering staffs, representing about a third of its work force, will be relocated to the larger Hickory Cable Facility off McDonald Parkway. The moves are part of cost-cutting initiatives announced Monday by Clark Kinlin, president and chief executive officer of Hickory-based Corning Cable Systems Kinlin also announced a large Corning Cable Systems plant in the Dominican Republic will close by year's end. Corning Cable Systems, which employs an estimated 1,400 people in Hickory, laid off an unspecified number of employees in November.
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January 29th, 2009
- Closures
London U.K. - ESAB closes wire plant in Finland and Swedish flux plant but no US closures
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| Esab announced the closure of two European plants and global workforce reductions of more than 900. Charter International, the British engineering firm that owns ESAB, in a Tuesday press release announced a 10-percent reduction - about 940 people - in the size of ESAB's global workforce. Of that number, 635 people had left the business by the end of 2008 and the remainder are expected to leave by the end of the first quarter of 2009, the company said. A flux plant in Sweden, which the company said was at the end of its useful life, and a small solid-wire plant in Finland have been closed as part of the process, the company said. The company said underlying earnings for 2008 would come in slightly ahead of previous expectations thanks to a strong performance at its Howden business, which makes air and gas handling equipment.
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December 23rd, 2008
- Closures
Stockholm Sweden - BE Group closes down its business in St. Petersburg
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| Steel trader BE Group is closing down operations at its facility in St. Petersburg, Russia. The business was launched in 2006. Sales in 2008 so far total SEK 15M. The process of discontinuing the business will take place during the first half of 2009 and will affect 13 employees. The cost of closing down the business is estimated at SEK 10M, which will be posted in the fourth quarter of 2008. “We have been unable to develop the business in St. Petersburg to the extent that we had hoped. In light of the prevailing uncertainty in the market, we have therefore decided to focus on our other operations within the CEE business area in Central and Eastern Europe. Russia remains a market that is of interest to BE Group from a long-term perspective.” BE Group is one of the leading trading and service companies offering its customers a broad range of steel, stainless steel and aluminum. The company provides service primarily to customers within the construction (re-bar) and engineering industries tubes, pipes, drawn bar and cut to length wire. BE Group is operating in ten countries in northern, central and eastern Europe. The cornerstone of BE Group's strategy is to create value to its customers through a comprehensive processing of products, so called production service, or other value-adding service.
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November 15th, 2008
- Closures
Mequon Wisconsin - Automotive slowdown prompts Charter Manufacturing to cut jobs
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| Charter Manufacturing Inc. announced it will eliminate 155 jobs and close its processing plants in Fond du Lac and in Detroit, Mich. In addition, Charter Automotive's Heather Avenue Dipstick and Tube business in Milwaukee will be put up for sale. The company said the changes were driven by a severely weakened U.S. and global economy and a near 30-year low in the U.S. manufacturing sector, particularly the automotive industry. Charter will cut 63 positions in Wisconsin, 70 positions in Ohio and 22 positions in Michigan.
"Any right-sizing is difficult, but the current economic mess has combined with a massive decline in automotive sales and a softening in steel demand that requires this action. This is a tough business decision that will help Charter preserve existing jobs, sustain our market position and continue to provide quality products for our strong customer base," said John Mellowes, chairman and chief executive officer of Charter Manufacturing. "We realize we are not the only company dealing with the current economic situation. However, it is important to us to be able to retain a majority of our employees, and this decision will allow that to happen. We have a 72-year reputation for doing the right thing in business and we will make sure the affected workers are helped and supported during the right-sizing of Charter."
Company spokesman Evan Zeppos said Charter Wire, which produces steel wire used in the auto, construction, defense, energy and lawn and garden industries in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward at 114 N. Jackson St., still plans to move to a new plant in the city's Menomonee River Valley next year.
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October 27th, 2008
- Closures
Springfield Massachusetts - Production ends at Springfield Wire factory on Cottage Street
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| Production has ceased at the Cottage Street factory of Springfield Wire Inc., which had employed 200 here before manufacturing was moved to China and Mexico. Springfield Wire's 100,000-square-foot building on Cottage Street - opened in 1965 and expanded in 1976 - is for sale for $3.85 million, said William T. Bradford, president of Springfield Wire. "Ideally, what we would like to do is sell the building and lease back the laboratory and office space we need," Bradford said. Springfield Wire had 200 employees at its Springfield facilities a year and a half ago when it announced that it would stop manufacturing here. Production stopped two weeks ago. Bradford said the permanent staff at Springfield Wire in Springfield will be about 20 people once the factory space is fully closed.
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September 30th, 2008
- Closures
Butler Pennsylvania - A Butler-based fastener manufacturer is looking to close up shop
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| Air Nail Co. Inc. has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which results in liquidation of the company. Mark Kania, secretary with the firm, did not return calls requesting comment. John Steiner, an attorney with Downtown-based Leech Tishman Fuscaldo & Lampl LLC who is representing Air Nail, also did not return calls. Air Nail is a division of International Staple & Machine Co., also of Butler, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2003. International Staple has not filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, according to court records. Last year, International Staple sold its Summit Township manufacturing facility to North American Wire LLC, a Butler-based start-up wire-making firm, for $2.75 million. North American Wire, which extracts wire from steel rods that can be bent into staples or other products, employs 25 to 30 people and produces 2,000 tons of wire a month at the facility.
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September 25th, 2008
- Closures
Handan Hebei China - Handan Steel officially stops its last wire rod line
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| Hebei Daily reported Monday that Hebei Iron & Steel Group Handan Steel has ceased operating its last wire rod line running for 28 straight years, which is a significant move in improving products structure and shake off antiquated capacity. Until now, the steel maker's proportion of competitive steel products has risen up to 83%. Handan Steel has been working to upgrade its existing equipments and wash out energy consuming and low value-added lines in recent years.
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September 10th, 2008
- Closures
Richmond, Virginia - Rehrig United International plant to close 114 jobs lost.
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| A wire forming company and maker of shopping carts will close down its Battle Creek a little more than a year after the once locally owned business merged with a Richmond, Va.-based competitor. An estimated 114 people will lose their jobs. Tim Smith, Rehrig United International's Battle Creek Plant Manager, informed the city of the impending closure in a letter dated Wednesday. Smith could not be reached for comment because the phone number provided in the letter was temporarily disconnected. The letter also said the company will begin shuttering its Wayne Road plant on or about Oct. 6. All plant employees, including some represented by United Auto Workers Region 1-C, will be laid off by mid-November. The company began in 1909 when George Genebach founded the Battle Creek Oven Rack Co. In 1911, it became United Steel & Wire Co., which eventually owned almost three-quarters of a million square feet of factory and storage space here. At the turn of the century, the company was specializing in wire-frame carts, as well as steel display cases and wire handbaskets, and employed 275 people. So in May 2007, the company merged with the Richmond, Va.-based Rehrig International, which specialized in plastic shopping carts, to form Rehrig United International.
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August 29th, 2008
- Closures
Branford Connecticut - Curtains down at Atlantic Wire.
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| One of Connecticut's oldest businesses and the last major steel wire manufacturer in the Northeast, Atlantic Wire, has announced it will cease operations by the end of this month. The century-old business that had
carved out several niche markets in the low carbon steel (C1005 - C1018 grade) virtually immune to price pressure from low cost off-shore suppliers. Atlantic Wire's main products has been steel cold-heading quality wire and processed rod ranging in size from .030" to .750"providing custom coatings, soaps, and lubricants to meet IFI-140 and ASTM specifications for the entire range of the fastener and wire-forming industries. Atlantic was also a source for low carbon industrial wire, from bright basic to black and bright annealed, as well as direct drawn copper-coated annealed in process jewelry chain wire. For more view You Tube report this link
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July 10th, 2008
- Closures
Östersund Sweden - Volex's Swedish unit may close.
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| Cable harness supplier Volex may have to close its Swedish factory with 30 employees in Östersund as a result from Flextronics decision of chosing another supplier. Volex and Flextronics have had a seven-year-relationship but Flextronics has now decided to chose another supplier of cable harnesses. Volex will continue supply Flextronics to the end of January but not after. Negotiations between the union and Volex have now been entered about the 30 employees. "Our Irish owners's intention is actually, as it looks right now, to close down the operations here in Östersund", Operational Manager Anna-Carin Larsson told the local media. Volex will look to close more plants in 2008 to cut costs further after a slowdown in consumer, telecoms and aerospace markets made for a challenging year.
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June 27th, 2008
- Closures
Kortrijk, Belgium - Bekaert reorganizes steel cord activities in Belgium
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| Bekaert management has today advised its Belgian works councils concerning the planned reorganization of its steel cord activities in Belgium. This reorganization includes the intention to close the production plant in Lanklaar and the decision to integrate the Waregem production entity into other plants within the Bekaert group. The intended closure of the plant in Lanklaar affects 136 jobs. Management regrets the need for this measure and will immediately enter into the first phase of information and consultation with the employee representatives, as required by law, leading to negotiations on the agreement of a social plan.
The transfer of the activities from Waregem will not give rise to any lay-offs. As a result of this reorganization Bekaert's Belgian steel cord activities would be largely concentrated in Aalter, this plant continuing to specialize even more in the production and development of advanced steel cord products. For full press release use this link
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May 1st, 2008
- Closures
Hickory North Carolina - CommScope to close its Jaguariuna, Brazil facility
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| CommScope, Inc. plans to close its Jaguariuna, Brazil facility as part of the company’s goal to eliminate duplicate manufacturing and distribution centers to reduce costs and enhance its long-term competitive position.
The Jaguariuna facility, which employs approximately 200 people and primarily produces broadband cable products, is expected to close by the end of September, with most equipment redeployed to other facilities elsewhere in the world. These changes do not affect the company’s other Brazilian facility located in Sorocaba or the company’s ongoing commitment to providing Latin America customers with high-performance wireless, enterprise and broadband solutions.
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April 28th, 2008
- Closures
- DRAKA to close Vigo Spain plant
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| As a consequence of the fact that Draka’s important automotive customers (Tier 1 harness suppliers)
in Spain are relocating their production facilities to low labour cost countries in North Africa and
Eastern Europe, the Board of Management of Draka Holding N.V. announces that it has decided to
close its factory in Vigo (Spain), which is part of its Automotive & Aviation division. The factory is
dedicated to the manufacturing of electric cables for the automotive industry and employs around
100 people. The total termination of the activities will also be duly communicated to the employees
and will take place in the following months. Draka will inform the Works’ Council and the Labor Authority about the legal grounds for the aforementioned close down. the Board of Management said in a press release.
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March 21st, 2008
- Closures
Manchester Connecticut - Mohawk Cable plant moving work to Mexico
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| The Manchester Mohawk Cable plant operated by St. Louis-based Belden CDT Networking Inc. has laid off about 30 workers, and Labor Department officials have suggested that more job cuts may be in the offing as the work is shifted out of the country. The state Labor Department is notifying 15 full-time and 15 part-time employees at the cable plant, known as Mohawk Cable, that they are eligible to apply for federal Trade Adjustment Assistance, because the work they have been doing is being moved to a plant in Mexico. The Manchester plant, at 90 Progress Drive, employs about 135 workers, according to Mohawk Human Resources representative Ann Varghese. The Mohawk division, with headquarters in Leominster, Mass., makes copper, fiber optic, and hybrid wire and cable. Local workers who have asked to remain anonymous also said they’ve been told that the entire plant may be closed by this summer, with all work being shipped off to Mexico.
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March 15th, 2008
- Closures
Atlanta Georgia - Superior Essex in talks to close Chauny facility
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| Wire and cable maker Superior Essex Inc. said Thursday it is in talks with groups representing employees at its magnet wire manufacturing plant in Chauny, France, about a possible closure of the facility. The plant, which has about 130 employees, is operated by the company's French subsidiary, Essex SAS. Superior Essex said in January it planned to consolidate and restructure its North American magnet wire business, as part of a worldwide cost cutting initiative. It closed a plant in Indiana and moved operations to Tennessee and Mexico facilities.
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February 18th, 2008
- Closures
Melbourne Australia - OneSteel axes 270 jobs in a slash and burn strategy union says
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| 270 OneSteel workers will be out of a job at bar mill plants in Victoria and NSW following a restructuring at the steel production giant. OneSteel announced Friday 90 positions will be lost at its Martin Bright plant in Somerton, Melbourne, and a further 180 positions will go from its Newcastle mill in NSW. The move comes after the conclusion of a six month review following a merger with Smorgon Steel. The Australian Workers Union (AWU) blasted OneSteel saying it should be investing in new technologies to gain further efficiencies instead of closing facilities. "This is a hugely profitable company with revenue nearing $6 billion and approximately $700 million in profit,'' AWU national secretary Paul Howes said in a statement today. "But unlike comparable companies, it has put virtually nothing into plant modernization and investment. Their profits come purely out of a slash and burn strategy.'' The AWU also blamed the previous Howard federal government for a decade of failing to work with the private sector to develop quality research and development projects. OneSteel chief executive Geoff Plummer said the closures and follow-on redundancies stemmed from an overcapacity within its bar mills due to shifts in demand in the Australian market.
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December 12th, 2007
- Closures
Augusta Kentucky - F.A. Neider Company closing its doors for good
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| Not the click of a clasp, but a turn of a key will signal the end of an era in Augusta. On Dec. 31, the thump and clatter of fasteners being created at the F.A. Neider Company will be quieted for good. Until then, the 10 remaining workers don their eye protection and ear plugs -- the factory is noisy -- and go about filling their remaining orders for molding clips and a small variety of fasteners associated with the company. "I am the person who opens the door in the morning every day; I guess I will be the last one out the door when it closes," said Larry Lacey, F.A. Neider Company vice president. It's parent company Auto Vehicle Parts Company, Au-ve-co, in Cold Spring is closing the Neider operation, said Lacey. F.A. Neider began his company in 1883 as an outlet for his inventive nature and to meet a need for fasteners.
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December 4th, 2007
- Closures
Bhilai, , India - BWL disposes optical fiber cable division
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| BWL Ltd has announced that the major Plant & Machinery of Company's Optical Fibre Cable Division, situated at Shimla, Shoghi (H.P) has been disposed off for a consideration of EURO 3,00,000, Rupee equivalent 167,00,383 with the permission of the secured creditors. The entire proceeds have directly been paid to the secured creditors of the Company for the repayment of one time settlement (OTS) of their dues.
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November 5th, 2007
- Closures
Melbourne Australia - OneSteel slashes 99 jobs at the Vic wire mill
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| Almost 100 jobs will be lost when a wire mill in Melbourne's west closes next year, but some workers could be redeployed, the company says. A OneSteel spokesman said the Laverton wire mill would close in March 2008 and 99 workers would be made redundant. But he said the redundancies would be achieved where possible through voluntary redundancies from an adjacent steel mill. That would allow workers from the wire mill to be redeployed to the operating steel mill if they chose, he said. Both the wire mill and steel mill are located in a large industrial park along with a rod mill, bar mill and recycling operation. The spokesman said OneSteel operated four wire mills and the company planned to utilise the production capacity of its Newcastle and Geelong mills. He said employees' entitlements would be protected. "All employee entitlements are ensured," the spokesman said. "We are going to be providing outplacement assistance, transition support, and financial advice for employees." Australian Workers' Union (AWU) national secretary and ALP federal Maribyrnong candidate Bill Shorten said he hoped there would be no forced redundancies from the closure. "We're optimistic hopefully that there will be only voluntary redundancies," Mr Shorten told reporters in Melbourne. AWU state secretary Cesar Melhelm said the decision to close the mill was greedy and short-sighted. "The Laverton wire mill is profitable and our members there are among the most productive workers in Australia, so this decision does not make good business sense," Mr Melhelm said. He accused OneSteel of making the changes for the sake of it after its merger with Smorgon Steel.
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October 6th, 2007
- Closures
Southfield, Michigan - Prestolite announces job cuts 100 people let go.
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| Prestolite Wire Corporation announced Thursday that it will cease its manufacturing operations at its Tifton facility effective June 20, 2008. The plant, located on Southwell Boulevard, currently employs approximately 100 people. According to a press release from the company’s home office in Southfield, Mich., the company plans to maintain an operational engineering and customer service center in Tifton with a team of approximately 12 employees.Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce Director Earl Denham said Wednesday that he is "sorry the company is moving overseas." "Unfortunately, it’s a sign of the times," Denham said. "We are working on other projects to bring jobs to Tifton, but I’m not at liberty to discuss those at this time." Denham said that the manufacturing portion of Prestolite’s Tifton operation will be relocated to another country because of the cheaper labor costs. Prestolite moved into the Southwell Boulevard facility in November 1976 and has continued to manufacture spark plug wires there. "Advanced technology for coil on plug ignition and global competition has had a major impact on the decision to down-size the Tifton, Ga., facility," the press release stated. "Prestolite Wire is a leading manufacturer of ignition wire assemblies including ignition wire sets and COP components for the OEM and Aftermarket. Additionally, the company manufactures wire and cable products and custom wire harness assemblies for automotive and industrial markets. Prestolite's operations include manufacturing facilities in the United States and Mexico."
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September 29th, 2007
- Closures
Cardiff Wales - Carrington Wire is to close Cardiff facility 120 jobs lost.
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| Carrington Wire Limited (CWL), which has been based at East Moors in Cardiff for the last 20 years, has blamed competition from abroad. The plant makes wire products for the construction and automotive industries. The Yorkshire-based firm is consolidating its UK operations and is concentrating on its factory in Leeds, while closing in Cardiff in December. A spokeswoman said the company was working with unions, the Welsh Assembly Government and a training company to assist workers. A 90-day consultation on the future of the plant began in June, but the final decision was announced on Thursday. The firm became part of Severstal-metiz a member of Severstal Group. Carrington accounts for 30% of the UK's wire and wire products market, with customers in more than 50 countries.
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August 24th, 2007
- Closures
Brussels Belgium - Closure of Bekaert Australia Steel Cord plant
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| Bekaert, together with OneSteel, has decided to close the steel cord plant based in Geelong (Australia). This follows an extensive review of business performance which has included customer and market outlooks, financial performance, plant operations and sourcing alternatives. Employees, customers and suppliers have been advised of the closure which will occur by the end of the year, after all customer supply contracts and commitments for 2007 have been completed. The company will work closely with the employees and their union representatives to support an advice program and job placement assistance. The plant employs 74 people. Bekaert Australia Steel Cord Pty Ltd is a joint venture business formed in 1986, between Bekaert and OneSteel Pty Ltd, supplying steel cords and hose wires to tire and hydraulic hose manufacturers in Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia. Bekaert remains committed to its customers within Australia and New Zealand. Therefore, the company is developing transitional supply arrangements from its other steel cord plants located within North and South East Asia.
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May 26th, 2007
- Closures
Brussels Belgium - Nexans' Belgian factory says it did not prevent staff from continuing activities. (see also below)
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| Management of Nexans Harnesses, a Belgian unit of French cable maker Nexans, said it did not prevent staff from doing their usual job, despite staff claims it shut down production at its factory over the weekend without informing them. The French management of the group confirmed that production on its Belgian Nexans harnesses site would be transferred to one of the group's factories in Slovakia. But Guy Daneel from the CSC Union said workers at the factory, 15 km south of Brussels, discovered it was empty when they arrived for work yesterday morning. Nexans has released a statement saying management spent the weekend clearing the factory of its machinery and stocks.
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May 24th, 2007
- Closures
Zwevegem Belgium - Bekaert to close down its carding business in Cleckheaton U.K.
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| Bekaert announced Wednesday its intention to close its production plant at Cleckheaton United Kingdom. The facility employs 57 people. In accordance with the legal regulations concerned, Bekaert has entered into consultation with the representatives of the employees. In Cleckheaton, Bekaert produces short staple products for the textile machinery manufacturing. Given the structural shift of the production of cotton yarns for the textile industry to Asia and the total disappearance of market demand for these products in the United Kingdom, Bekaert wants to integrate the Cleckheaton activities in other Bekaert facilities. The company will guarantee its customers in the growing Asian market smooth service from its existing production facilities in Wuxi (China) and Pune (India). The distribution centre for the EMEA region will be transferred to Zwevegem (Belgium). Bekaert will strive to provide its customers with a seamless transition.
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March 17th, 2007
- Closures
Brantford Ontario - Another Ontario auto parts supplier bites the dust.
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| GenFast Manufacturing, 225 Henry St., has applied for and received bankruptcy protection and is working under bank monitors for the next 12 weeks as they phase out 234 employees. Meanwhile, morale has plummeted inside the plant where workers are uncertain about the security of their severance, pensions and vacation pay. But holding onto disheartened workers who are not sure if they will get the pay they are entitled to is going to be difficult. They are holding our vacation pay over our heads, reported one worker who asked not to be identified. Even people who have vacations booked can not get an answer if they will get paid. The mood in the plant is horrible. One guy freaked out and they have brought in extra security. The companys union, United Steelworkers, has discussed all possibilities of getting a buyer for the company but Tony De Paulo, area coordinator for the Hamilton Niagara Region, said no buyers are interested. At one point we thought we had worked out a deal to protect the severance pay and vacation pay, but they say there is no money left in the pot.Employees are at the bottom of the barrel and the banks are on top. De Paulo said.
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January 29th, 2007
- Closures
Tokyo Japan - Yazaki to close 2 US plants and move wire harness operations to Mexico
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| Yazaki Corp plans to shut its two US plants manufacturing wire harnesses and connectors used in automobiles by December 2008 and move production to Mexico, the Nikkei reported, without citing sources. By shifting the bulk of production to Mexico, the auto parts maker hopes to cut both personnel and transportation costs while boosting output efficiency, the business daily said. In line with the restructuring plan, some of the 680 employees currently serving at the two plants will be assigned elsewhere, but most are expected to lose their jobs, it said. The closures will leave the company with just one plant in the US, in Michigan, it said. This month, Yazaki started building a 2.6 bln yen plant in Durango, in central Mexico, the report said. The new plant, due to come onstream in August, will employ some 600 workers and produce some 14 bln yen worth of output each year, the report said.
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December 7th, 2006
- Closures
St Louis Missouri - Belden to cease manufacturing in Pointe-Claire, Quebec, and Wheeling, Illinois
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| Belden announced Tuesday plans to further restructure its North American manufacturing operations and to reduce its worldwide production overhead and SG&A expenses. The Company will cease production activities in its plant in Pointe- Claire, Quebec, by midyear 2007. Other Company facilities will assume the data networking cable production of the plant. The Company will continue its research, engineering, marketing and customer service activities in Pointe- Claire, maintaining its well-established center of excellence for enterprise networking technology. By mid-2007, Belden will also cease production activities in Wheeling, Illinois. This facility manufactures lead and hook-up wire as well as a wide variety of multi-conductor cable configurations. However, the Company will continue to provide these products under the Manhattan-Dearborn brand, with production activities assumed by other Company locations. The Company will satisfy the terms of the labor agreements at each location, both of which are part of the Company's Belden Americas Division the press release said. In June 2006, the Company announced plans to close manufacturing facilities in Fort Mill, South Carolina, and Tompkinsville, Kentucky, and to transfer most of the production of those two facilities by midyear 2007 to a new plant under construction in Nogales, Mexico.
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November 17th, 2006
- Closures
Brussels Belgium - Bekaert to close its steel cord plant in Dyersburg, Tennessee (USA)
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| Bekaert announced today its plan to phase out operations at its manufacturing facility for advanced wire products in Dyersburg (Tennessee). At this plant, steel cord is produced which is used in a variety of tire and other rubber reinforcement applications. Given the continued reduction of domestic tire production in North America and the increasing competition from imports, Bekaert is adapting its manufacturing footprint to remain competitive in the global market place. The production capacity from Dyersburg will be integrated into other Bekaert facilities, including those located in North America. This program will affect approximately 200 employees. Bekaert will work closely with the people to support outplacement efforts over the coming months, while striving to provide its customers with a seamless transition during this difficult time.
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September 21st, 2006
- Closures
St Louis Missouri - Belden to outsource coaxial cable production at its Venlo plant
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| Belden CDT Inc., a maker of cable and wire products, said Wednesday it will outsource the manufacturing of braided core for coaxial cable from its plant in Venlo, Netherlands. The company said the move will reduce space used in the Netherlands plant to 135,000 square feet from 500,000 square feet and will result in a severance charge of $4 million in the third quarter. Additionally, in the fourth quarter or in 2007, Belden expects to take non-cash asset impairment charges between $2 million and $4 million related to the action. Separately, the company will take a non-cash impairment charge of about $2.5 million in the third quarter for data cable manufacturing equipment in its Budapest, Hungary plant. The charge is related to a plan to raise some prices in order to improve product margins, which has lowered product demand in some cases. Belden expects savings of about $2 million from the restructuring actions beginning in 2007. The company added it expects more restructuring costs in Europe in the future.
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September 15th, 2006
- Closures
Tampa Florida - Gerdau Ameristeel to close melt shop at its Perth Amboy, New Jersey Mill
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| Gerdau Ameristeel Corporation announced Wednesday that it plans to close the melt shop operations at its Perth Amboy, New Jersey wire rod mill early in the fourth quarter of 2006. The Company plans to continue operating the Perth Amboy rolling mill at its current production level of approximately 500,000 tons of finished wire rod annually. After closure of the melt shop, semi-finished steel billets will be more efficiently supplied to the Perth Amboy rolling mill from available billet making capacity at other Gerdau Ameristeel melt shop operations. Higher grade billets will also be supplied from Gerdau Ameristeel's majority shareholder Gerdau SA in Brazil and other third party billet suppliers.
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September 2nd, 2006
- Closures
Johannesburg South Africa - BHP Billiton plans to close aluminum wire rod unit
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| Mining Weekly understands, that BHP Billiton intends disposing of its Bayside aluminum smelter, although this could not be confirmed at the time of going to press. The Bayside aluminum smelter specializes in value-added products for downstream manufacturers such as wire rod, extrusion billets, foundry alloy and rolling slab. The south-east coast of Africa, running from southern Mozambique down through South Africa, can well be designated the ‘aluminium coast’, with major smelters for the metal in full production at Maputo (Mozal), Richards Bay (Hillside and Bayside) and hopes for another to be established near Port Elizabeth (in the Coega Indus-trial Development Zone).
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July 15th, 2006
- Closures
Metropolis Illinois - Laidlaw workers to lose jobs in September
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| Seventy Laidlaw Corp. employees will lose their jobs in September when the company's wire hanger operations are transferred from the Metropolis manufacturing plant to Monticello, Wisconsin. Plant manager Arthur Boykin said he heard the news on Monday, but waited until Wednesday to tell his co-workers. He said the bad news wasn't completely unexpected. "They knew we were going to one domestic (wire hanger) plant," he said. "But we thought the decision would be made sometime in December." "It wasn't a good day," he said of having to tell people he works with that their jobs were eliminated. "Some things you just have to do. I told them I would tell them when I knew something." Boykin said the company is working with the state's dislocated worker program and other agencies to try to help employees find the best alternatives for their situations.
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Extended Story..
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July 12th, 2006
- Closures
Oulu Finland - Draka Comteq to close Finland plant
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| Dutch based telecom cable maker Draka Comteq Finland is to close its factory in Oulu, Finland. Production will be transferred to Russia, Germany and Denmark. Cooperation procedure talks are to begin next week for shedding the entire staff at a total of 170 jobs at the factory. The factory would close by the end of March, local media reports. Draka Comteq (the parent company of Draka Comteq Finland Oy) has proposed an Europe wide restructuring programme to improve the sustainability and profitability. Background is the change on telecommunication market which has been going on for several years. The target is to develop Comteq factories to product line units supplying products to the European market. Furthermore, every market area has its own, dedicated sales unit. The intended restructuring is expected to result in a reduction of approximately 330 employees in Europe. Appropriate employee representatives in the various countries affected will be consulted on the implementation of these plans and the impact on individual facilities. This is also the case with Draka Comteq Finland Ltd. In Finland the topic of negotiations is the intention to close down Oulu telecom cable factory and move the production to other Draka factories. Draka Comteq Finland will continue to market and sell the products in their market area as before. The operations of Draka NK Cables, the other Draka company in Finland, i.e. production of antenna line products, building wires and conductors continue unchanged.
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June 12th, 2006
- Closures
Llanelli Wales - Union hopes car cable plant set to close can be saved
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| A Llanelli factory, long established in the town, that produces cables for the car and aerospace industry is set to close with the loss of 270 jobs. But the factory could yet be saved, say union leaders. They were told at a meeting on Friday that Dura Automotive planned to begin making redundancies in late September. But Amicus regional secretary Carl Lucas said the firm was ready to listen to alternative ideas and if new orders could be found closure may be avoided. Dura earlier blamed competitive market conditions for its decision, but no-one was available for comment on Friday. The parent company, based in Michigan, United States, launched a major restructuring drive in February, with plans to close between five to 10 plants worldwide. It announced on Thursday that it planned to shut the Llanelli plant by the end of the year. Local politicians and union leaders met management at the plant on Friday.
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June 8th, 2006
- Closures
St Louis Missouri - Belden CDT Inc. closes US facility and moves facility to Mexico
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| Belden CDT Inc. said in a press release it will close its cable-manufacturing facility near Fort Mill and move most of the plant's operations to Mexico. The St. Louis-based company will start phasing out production and reducing employment at the local plant, as well as in Tompkinsville, Ky., during the
third quarter. The plants will close late next year. There are 115 workers at the company site on S.C. Highway 160 in Lancaster County, which produces data cable, and 200 at the Tompkinsville facility,
which manufactures coaxial cable. Belden plans to move most of the production to a new plant in Nogales,
Mexico, and outsource the rest. "We need a lower cost source for the products currently manufactured in
Tompkinsville and Fort Mill in order for them to be more cost-competitive and to meet our profitability objectives," says John Stroup, chief executive. "Establishing additional capacity in Mexico is an important step in our overall plan to increase our manufacturing presence in low-cost regions near our major markets."
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Extended Story..
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April 25th, 2006
- Closures
Mount Airy, North Carolina - Insteel to exit industrial wire business
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| Steel wire products maker Insteel Industries Inc. on Friday said it plans to exit its industrial wire products segment and shutter its Fredericksburg, Va., plant to focus exclusively on concrete reinforcement products. Insteel, which also reported fiscal second quarter earnings, said industrial wire products sales fell 5 percent to $9.2 million and selling prices decreased 8 percent from the year-ago period. The company plans to close the plant in the current quarter and record related pretax charges of about $4 million. "Our efforts to improve the operating rate and financial performance of the Virginia facility have been unsuccessful and the prospects for improving market conditions do not justify continued operations," said president and chief executive H.O. Woltz III in a statement.A company spokesperson couldn't immediately be reached to provide additional details.Results for the industrial wire division will be excluded from third-quarter results, the company said, leaving the company's business entirely focused on concrete reinforcing products. The industrial wire segment recorded a gross loss of $1.1 million for the first two quarters of the fiscal year, the company said. For the remainder of 2006, the company said it expects stronger demand for concrete reinforcing products from increased infrastructure spending by the government and post-hurricane reconstruction spending.
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April 24th, 2006
- Closures
Miami Lakes Florida - Coleman Cable cuts 109 jobs, moves Florida operations to Chicago.
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| Coleman Cable plans to shut its Miami Lakes manufacturing and distribution facility over the next few months, with about 109 workers to be laid off. Coleman, which makes wire and cable products, said it plans to relocate some production to an existing plant in the Chicago suburb of Waukegan, where the firm is based. The company said the Miami Lakes facility did not fit into efficient long-term operations, according to a regulatory filing made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It added the loss of the facility would also be supplemented by ``international sourcing''. Up to 109 workers will be affected by the shutdown, which may take place by June 16, the firm said in a layoff warning notice provided to the state on Thursday. Company officials did not return phone calls seeking comment. Coleman becomes the third firm to say it is moving from the Hialeah-Miami Lakes area this year. Visit the Coleman Cable using this link provided by wirelinks.com
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April 5th, 2006
- Closures
St Louis Missouri - Belden moves to close Sweden operations
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| Belden CDT Inc. entered negotiations with union representatives of its associates in Örebro, Sweden regarding plans to discontinue manufacturing operations there, the firm said Tuesday. Upon completion of negotiations, Belden said in a release it expects to relocate productions to its other European manufacturing locations. The firm plans to establish a service center and maintain its sales representation in Sweden.
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March 10th, 2006
- Closures
Tokyo - Shinko Wire to consolidate bridge cable operations
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| Shinko Wire Co. will scale back operations in bridge-use steel cable to a single location by the end of April.The company will halt production at its plant in Kakogawa, Hyogo Prefecture, consolidating operations at its Amagasaki plant in the same prefecture. Shinko Wire expects to reduce annual production costs by around 20-30 million yen as a result. Orders for steel used in bridges are sluggish because of weak demand in public works and fallout from bid-rigging scandals. The company has no major contracts for the coming three years for bridge materials. It plans to concentrate its resources on automotive wire materials, for which demand is strong. Shinko Wire aims to raise its share of sales derived from the private sector to 60 per cent, up from about 50 per cent at present.
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March 8th, 2006
- Closures
Sandviken Sweden - Sandvik to shut Italian resistance wire drawing plant
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| Sandvik AB said that as a consequence of the ongoing review of Sandvik Materials Technology's wire drawing plants, it has decided to phase out operations at the division in Cinisello, Italy, within the Kanthal product area. This action is part of the efforts to improve cost efficiency and increase profitability. The decision affects about 90 employees, and negotiations with the trade unions will be initiated in the near future, the company said. Sales of Kanthal's products in Italy will not be affected by the decision.
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February 24th, 2006
- Closures
Brussels Belgium - Bekaert to reorganize its carding business in Huddersfield (UK)
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| Thursday, Bekaert announced its intention to reorganize its production plant at Huddersfield (United Kingdom). In line with the various laws and regulations concerned, the company has entered into consultation with the representatives of the employees. The facility in Huddersfield employs 52 people. Bekaert decided to expand its carding activities worldwide and has brought together ECC Card Clothing, Damgaard and Sobelcard in order to deliver unique carding solutions to the customers. With the set up of the joint-venture Wuxi Bekaert Textile Machinery and Accessories Co., Ltd, the company wants to anticipate the needs in the Chinese market. While carding products for non-woven applications are chiefly used in Europe and North America, Asia is an important growth market in card clothing for the production of cotton yarns in the textile industry. This structural evolution in the market has had an important impact in the recent years on the Huddersfield facility which is mainly active in the short staple products for the textile machinery manufacturing. In order to be able to supply its customer base in a cost-competitive manner, Bekaert needs to adapt its cost structure and wants to integrate the Huddersfield activities in Bekaert’s other facilities for carding products.
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February 2nd, 2006
- Closures
Tirana Albania - Turkish steel company stops operations at Albanian plant
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| A Turkish-owned steel plant in Albania halted operations Wednesday, blaming the move on higher electricity costs and transport charges, and lower import tariffs. Kurum Steel Co. said it would not reopen unless custom tariffs were raised to at least 15 percent _ to avoid Albanian companies ordering steel from outside the country _ and also called for the exclusive use of lines on the Albanian railway network. Kurum has a 1,000-strong work force, making it a major employer in one of Europe's poorest countries. It has invested some A65 million (US$78 million) since 1999 in its Elbasan facility, 55 kilometers (34 miles) from Tirana, plant manager Zekia Kaya said. Kurum produces up to 400,000 tons of rebar and steel wire rod annually.
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January 23rd, 2006
- Closures
Georgetown South Carolina - Leggett and Platt to close Andrews Wire Co.
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| For employees of Andrews Wire Company, located off Gapway Road in Andrews, the end of February may come all too soon. Andrews Wire, owned by Missouri-based corporation Leggett and Platt, Inc., has announced plans to close at the end of next month. The closure will affect approximately 35 management, production, support and administrative employees, said Leggett & Platt Employee Relations Manager Mike Altman.A final day of operation has not been decided. At present, Altman said Leggett & Platt has no plans to re-open the plant.The closure, Altman added, is due to “lower demand for products produced at the Andrews facility.” “We have excess capacity at a number of our wire-production companies,” Altman said. “The closure is part of Leggett & Platt’s plan to consolidate that work into other operations in the U.S.” Andrews Wire’s February closure won’t be the company’s first. It shut down in March 2004 in order to “consolidate production of similar products into fewer facilities,” said Andrews Wire General Manager Walter Given. At one point, Andrews Wire, which produces wire products such as springs and mattresses, employed some 300 people. Many employees were released due to layoffs within the past two years.
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Extended Story..
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December 7th, 2005
- Closures
Brussels Belgium - Bekaert to close Michigan wire plant
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| Bekaert announced Tuesday plans to close its manufacturing facility for advanced wire products in Muskegon, Michigan, where Bekaert produces high carbon specialty steel wires mainly used in various applications for the automotive industry. "Both the softening of the domestic automotive market and the increasing competition of low cost offshore importers are an ongoing trend in North America," said the company in a statement. "As a small manufacturing facility, the indirect regulatory and environmental costs of operations at the Muskegon plant have become burdensome," explained the company. Bekaert operates seven manufacturing facilities in the United States for advanced wire products and five for advanced materials and coatings. It is not clear how these other U.S. plants will be affected, although the company issued a statement late last month talking of the need to 'further invest' in China, albeit without disclosing financial details.
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November 23rd, 2005
- Closures
Cleveland - PolyOne Corporation closes UK color additives facility.
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| PolyOne a global polymer compounding and North American distribution company, announced today that it will phase out its Manchester, England, plastic color additives facility. The plant closing, targeted for completion by the end of the first quarter of 2006, is part of the Company's objective to reduce costs and align capacity with market demand. The decision will have no effect on customers for wire and cable products, engineering compounds and some concentrate ranges that already were supplied from other PolyOne facilities throughout Europe. "The team at Manchester is to be commended for its efforts," said Bernard Baert, vice president and general manager, International Colors and Engineered Materials. "The region's tough economic environment and a trend toward declining industrial and manufacturing activity in the UK, however, made a turnaround unlikely. Accordingly, we need to redeploy the assets invested in this business to capitalize on more promising opportunities in other geographic markets."
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October 31st, 2005
- Closures
Clayton, Missouri - Olin considering plant closings
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| Olin Corp. of Clayton a basic materials companies and a leading North American producer of copper alloys, wire rod and brass tubes is considering plant closings and layoffs in its Metals division to boost profits in its North American copper and brass products business. While Olin said it has yet to make final the details, the proposed restructuring could affect the company's local manufacturing operations. Olin employs about 3,600 people in East Alton; about half work in the Metals division. The rest work at the company's Winchester ammunition division. Olin also has a brass-tube facility in Cuba, Mo., where about 60 people work. Other copper and brass operations are located in Bryan and Montpelier, Ohio; Seymour and Waterbury, Conn East Alton is the largest plant, representing a majority of jobs within the Metals division. The company needs to restructure its North American Metals operations given rising energy and copper prices and a sharp downturn in U.S. copper and brass demand, Joseph D. Rupp, Olin's chairman, president and chief executive told analysts on Friday during a conference call. Rupp said that restructuring the Metals division probably will include closing plants, realigning operations and cutting jobs. To improve its price competitiveness, Olin also plans to add stamping operations at its Chinese joint venture in Guangzhou, he added. That joint venture now only distributes products.
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October 1st, 2005
- Closures
St Louis Missouri - St Louis Missouri October 1 Belden CDT to restructure European operations
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| Belden CDT Inc. announced a restructuring plan that will reduce manufacturing floor space and manufacturing overhead in the Company's European operations in 2006 and will streamline administrative processes in Europe. The Company has nine manufacturing locations in Europe totaling approximately 2.2 million square feet. About 30 percent of the Company's sales were in Europe in the first six months of 2005, and most of the products sold there are produced locally. "Having nearly completed the merger integration work we outlined when we announced the merger of Belden and Cable Design Technologies in 2004, we are now turning our attention to additional restructuring in Europe," said C. Baker Cunningham, President and Chief Executive Officer of Belden CDT.
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September 6th, 2005
- Closures
Hickory North Carolina - CommScope to close Alabama plant as part of cost-cutting plan.
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| CommScope Inc. said after Thursday's closing bell that it plans to close its broadband facility in Scottsboro, Ala. in late 2006 and redistribute production among its global facilities as part of an 18-month initiative to cut costs and enhance facility usage. The closure affects 185 people. The telecommunications cable products maker expects pretax savings of $35 million to $40 million a year once the initiative is completed in early 2007. CommScope expects to incur pretax restructuring costs of $38 million to $45 million, with $16 million to $20 million of that amount to be cash costs. The company also expects to recognize most of its equipment impairment charges in the third quarter, with most other expenses to be recorded between October and June 2006.
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June 20th, 2005
- Closures
Highland Heights, Kentucky - General Cable Corporation to close 2 facilities.
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| General Cable Corporation announced Wednesday that it will close its Bonham, Texas facility one of 3 plants that manufacture copper telephone exchange cables. The plant has approximately 170 employees and utilizes more than 360,000 square feet in the production of copper telephone exchange cable. The Company also announced its decision to close its fiber optic military and premise cable manufacturing plant in Dayville, Connecticut, and to relocate production from this plant to its recently acquired facility in Franklin, Massachusetts, which today produces copper as well as some fiber optic communications products. The Dayville plant employs approximately 30 people. The total cost of these closures should approximate $30 million, of which about $13 million will be cash costs. "As a result of the significant reduction in demand for copper telephone exchange cable over the last several years, our Bonham facility has been operating at below 50% of its capacity," commented Gregory B. Kenny, Chief Executive Officer of General Cable. "In light of our belief that there will not be a significant rebound in demand for copper telephone exchange cables, we have made the decision to streamline our manufacturing operations and close the plant. The Company, in its remaining communications facilities which make a wide range of products for multiple applications, will retain more than enough capacity to meet projected customer demand for exchange cables." "Our Dayville, Connecticut facility, which primarily manufactures fiber optic military and premise cables, has also been operating at less then 50% of its capacity. We will optimize our fiber optic cable manufacturing operations by moving this productive capacity to a larger and more broad based General Cable facility," added Kenny.
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March 11th, 2005
- Closures
Fort Worth Texas - Radio Shack moves Fort Worth cable factory to China.
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| RadioShack will shut down its Fort Worth wire and cable plant in June and move the work to China, eliminating 69 domestic jobs and further scaling back the company's local manufacturing ties. Employees were notified Monday. Those who stay until the June 24 closing date will receive severance packages, company spokeswoman Kay Jackson said. RadioShack began consolidating its manufacturing businesses two years ago, closing a wire and cable facility on McCart Avenue in Fort Worth and a sign-making operation in Arlington after reviewing expenses at each department.
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