Invista to close plants in Germany, Netherlands; 460 jobs hit

09 June 2010 15:37  [Source: ICIS news]

TORONTO (ICIS news)--Invista plans to close carpet fibre and flooring production at sites in Germany and the Netherlands, the US-based international producer of polymers, fibres and yarns said on Wednesday.

The company said the closures were prompted by the plants’ high cost position and poor fibre and yarn demand in the European flooring markets.

Production at Ostringen, near Karlsruhe in south-west Germany, and Kerkrade, Netherlands, was expected to cease by the end of 2010 and towards the end of the 2011 first quarter, respectively, Invista said. The measure would affect 400 jobs in Germany and 60 in the Netherlands, it said.

The company would transition customers supplied by the plants to “alternative yarns,” it said.

Invista’s apparel business at Kerkrade was not affected, it added.

A German press report, citing an offical at chemical workers union IG BCE, said part of the German production would likely be shifted to Invista facilities in the US.

In 2009, Invista announced the closure of polyester production at Offenbach, near Frankfurt.

To discuss issues facing the chemical industry go to ICIS connect

By: Stefan Baumgarten
+1 713 525 2653

For the latest chemical news, data and analysis that directly impacts your business sign up for a free trial to ICIS news - the breaking online news service for the global chemical industry.

Get the facts and analysis behind the headlines from our market leading weekly magazine: sign up to a free trial to ICIS Chemical Business.

Printer Friendly