Aluminum plant idles workers
By Warren Wise
JW Aluminum, bending under the weak economy, temporarily laid off "a significant percentage" of its work force at its Goose Creek mill late last week, the manufacturer said Monday.
The Post and Courier
The JW Aluminum plant in Goose Creek has temporarily laid off an undisclosed number of employees. Affected employees could be recalled to work as early as spring.
"Driven by the significant downturn in orders, we don't have enough demand to keep the plant busy," said Sammy Peek, marketing director.
Peek declined to say exactly the number of workers who were affected, except to say it was in the "high teens" percentage-wise.
The plant employed 400 people before the cuts. The company's Berkeley County operation makes light-gauge aluminum sheets and foil for the construction, transportation and heating and air conditioning markets.
The layoffs affected salaried employees, office personnel and production workers, Peek said.
Those temporarily out of work could be recalled by the spring as the aluminum-maker expects demand to pick back up. Six weeks to two months would be "optimistic" for those workers to be idle, Peek said. It could be longer.
"We normally experience seasonal fall-off and demand in the first quarter, but it's been exacerbated this year by the economy," he said. "We have controlled it in the past by cutting hours to some extent or doing special inventory programs for certain industries. We usually work through it."
In addition to heating and air conditioning aluminum sheets used in the housing industry, the plant makes heat-shield panels and sound-dampeners for automotive companies. Its products also are used for rain gutters, downspouts, siding and roofing.
"As homes start selling, we will see the need go up again," Peek said.
Earlier this month, it was reported that the company temporarily laid off an unspecified number of workers at its Russellville, Ark., plant, which had employed about 100 people.
Peek said Monday that he expects the Arkansas workers to be back on the job before Charleston area employees because that plant makes different products.
The cutbacks do not affect JW Aluminum's operations in St. Louis; Jackson, Tenn., or Williamsport, Pa., Peek said.
Reach Warren Wise at 937-5524 or wwise@postandcourier.com.
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