US Gypsum plant to close

[thelakelander]

Bad news.  They had just expanded a portion of this facility about a year ago.  Its on the St. Johns River and has rail access so maybe its a location that the port can take advantage of.

• United States Gypsum Company, Inc. has announced it intends to close its Evergreen Avenue production facility. According to Plant Manager Mike Favo, the closure is effective Dec. 31 and will affect 133 jobs.

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/citynotes.php

[Jason]

I wonder what caused them to close?  Money problems?

[thelakelander]

Its the trickle down effect.  This is the second drywall plant to announce a shut down this month.  It appears to be because of the slumping housing market. 

A drywall manufacturer will close its Jacksonville plant in January, eliminating about 54 jobs.

CertainTeed Gypsum produces gypsum wallboard, commonly known as drywall, at 22 facilities across the country, including the local plant on Dames Point Road. The company said the decline in new home construction in the Southeast has caused a slump in demand for its products.

“It is always a very difficult decision to cease operations,” said President John Donaldson. “But unfortunately, customer demand has dropped to such a low level that we simply cannot continue to manufacture at the present time.”

The plant will start cutting back on production Nov. 14 and plans to cease operations entirely by Jan. 7. Donaldson said the company will help laid off workers look for new jobs locally and within the company.

CertainTeed is based in Valley Forge, Pa., and, along with its affiliates, employs about 7,000 people in 70 manufacturing sites throughout the U.S. and Canada.

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2008/11/10/daily3.html?b=1226293200%5E1730703&brthrs=1

[billy]

They used to run the USG plant non-stop.