The PPG Industries Inc. fiberglass yarn plant in Lexington, North Carolina, will cut up to 30 jobs at the end of July 2005.
The plant is shutting down one of three furnaces in a bid to reduce capacit…
The PPG Industries Inc. fiberglass yarn plant in Lexington, North Carolina, will cut up to 30 jobs at the end of July 2005. The plant is shutting down one of three furnaces in a bid to reduce capacity. “Our sales have been down a little bit,” Brian McIlwain, the human-resources manager said 22 July 2005. “As a result, our inventory has risen and we need to bring that back down, so we“re being forced to reduce some of our capacity.” McIlwain said that the company“s sales in the electronics market have been soft, primarily because of the availability of cheaper fiberglass in Asia. “In our specialty markets, our business is still very healthy,” McIlwain said. The fiberglass yarn made by PPG is also used as screen wire and insulation material, he said. All the workers being laid off work in production. They will be eligible for benefits under the federal Trade Adjustment Act Benefits, which helps workers who lose their jobs or whose hours of work and wages are cut because of higher imports. McIlwain said that no further cuts are planned, but he could not rule out more job losses if the situation deteriorates. About 630 employees will remain at the plant.