Specialty Filaments to close Burlington plant

SPECIALTY FILAMENTS, INC., ANNOUNCES CLOSING OF BURLINGTON, VERMONT
MANUFACTURING FACILITY
BURLINGTON, VT-The Board of Directors of Specialty Filaments, Inc. ("SFI")
announced Friday May 20 that SFI will close its Burlington, Vermont, manufacturing
plant. SFI anticipates that manufacturing operations will end at the
Burlington plant between July 30, 2005 and September 30, 2005. SFI will
increase manufacturing activity at its Middlebury, Vermont location,
continue to offer its full product line and expects no interruption in
customer service.
The Board's decision represents a change in the scope and direction of
SFI's manufacturing operations. This decision will better align SFI's
fixed-cost structure with its current and anticipated future sales levels.
This decision will enable SFI to be a stronger marketplace competitor and
will preserve good manufacturing jobs for Vermonters.
Because of the expected increase in manufacturing activity at the
Middlebury, Vermont facility, SFI expects to increase hiring at that
location. Although job losses will occur in Burlington, SFI anticipates
the possibility of making jobs available to displaced workers at the
Middlebury location.
SFI has collective bargaining agreements with the UNITE! HERE union at
both the Burlington and Middlebury plants. SFI and UNITE! HERE will
bargain over the effects that SFI's decision will have on the union's
members employed at the Burlington plant.
Reggie Hockenberry, an SFI spokesman, indicated that consolidation of
manufacturing facilities in today's global economy is a part of the new
business landscape. Foreign competition and customer just-in-time
manufacturing practices require manufacturers to streamline operations and
make more with less if they want to remain competitive.
Specialty Filaments, Inc., is a leading manufacturer of filaments and
molded products serving the toothbrush, cosmetic, paint, industrial
cleaning, household and food service industries.