Maxxim plans to close site

CLEARWATER, Fla. (June 24)—Maxxim Medical Inc. will close its Honea Path, S.C., natural rubber latex glove dipping facility, although a date has not been set. Maxxim, which filed for relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code Feb. 11, has three glove dipping machines at the facility but only two are currently being used, according to Roy Bergquist, chief operating officer of the Clearwater-based company. The firm plans to eventually outsource production at the plant. The factory has been downsizing for more than a year, he said, and "there will be less than 50 people at the site when it eventually closes. There is no firm date set for the closing since the final decision has not been made as to the outsourcing vendor." He noted, too, that "the high demand for the product produced in that plant has extended, somewhat, the time it will be in production."