Ansell to close Alabama facility

RED BANK, N.J. (Feb. 20)—Latex glove and condom maker Ansell Healthcare Products Inc. will close its Troy, Ala., manufacturing facility, principally because the plant has been losing money. The facility manufactures a range of disposable nitrile examination gloves for general-purpose barrier protection and low particulate Nitrilite Critical Environment gloves for the microelectronics industry. The company said that a reduction in product costs and an improved production process proved insufficient to reverse financial losses at the site. Pacific Dunlop Ltd., Ansell's Melbourne, Australia-based parent, said in its half-year report the Troy plant is incurring an operating loss of about $4 million annually.