Textron To Consolidate Plants

Jason Sandefur

Textron Fastening Systems Inc. announced it will close another plant in Rockford, IL, and move production to its 200,000 sq ft facility in Decorah, IA, adding about 150 jobs at that location. \ TFS spokesman Tim Weir told FIN that a Precision Components division plant will lay off 250 workers and close by the end of 2003 as part of parent company Textron Inc.�s global restructuring program that began in October 2000. TFS has operated the 130,000 sq ft Precision Components plant in Rockford since 1996.
�We’�ve needed to do this for a while,� Weir commented. �It makes sense to consolidate production under one roof,� he added.
Weir said TFS explored moving Decorah production to the Precision Components facility in Rockford, but there wasn�t enough floor space. Currently the Decorah facility produces miniature electronic fasteners and construction and automotive fasteners.
In February Weir announced TFS plans to close its 70,000 sq ft Syntek Products plant in Rockford, eliminating 100 jobs and shifting production of the facility�s custom fasteners, rivets and engineered assemblies to Mexico and China. TFS will retain six engineers as consultants to foreign operations.
The closings are the latest in a series of moves by TFS to consolidate production to remain competitive, according to Weir. While demand for certain Precision Components products made in Rockford has slackened, Weir said TFS� overall electronics market sales were up. He emphasized TFS remains financially healthy and was simply addressing plant overcapacity.
�The customers are still being served. It�s not lost business,� Weir stated.
And what about concern that TFS may be abandoning Rockford?
�That couldn�t be farther from the truth,� Weir emphasized.
After the job cuts, Troy, MI-based TFS will employ about 1,400 people in Rockford, which remains the largest concentration of the company�s 11,000 global employees, Weir explained. Rockford hosts four TFS plants, as well as distribution and administrative facilities and the company�s North American Technology Center.
In other news, Weir confirmed TFS was awarded $490,000 in grants and loans by the Iowa Department of Economic Development for a Decorah employee-training program. �2003 FastenerNews.com