REGAL-BELOIT STILL PLANS FIRST QUARTER CLOSURE
Friday, May 16th, 2008 -- 11:34 AM
Despite what you may have heard, Regal-Beloit doesn't plan to keep their Neillsville facility open much longer than originally reported.Plant manager Chuck Johnson acknowledges there have been many rumors about a potential delay in the closing of the facility, but the reality is any delay will be minimal.
"The initial (plan) was that Mexico would start building product in June, now they won't start until late July," Johnson explains.
So, at most, a 30-60 day delay, according to Johnson. Company officials still plan to close down the facility and move production to a new plant in Monterrey, Mexico by the end of the first quarter next year.
As for now, business in Neillsville is buzzing. The plant currently employees 145 people, and actually added summer help.
"Oh my God, we can't build enough motors," Johnson reports, "Our lead times went from 15 days, to 18 days to 25 days. We're building 600 motors a day, and that's still not enough."
The ramp-down of the facility will begin in August, when the first round of 60-day notices are handed to employees.
Some will be offered positions training workers in Mexico, Johnson says.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.