ROGERS, Conn. (Jan. 22)—Rogers Corp. will close its Windham, Conn., plant by the end of 2004 and shift production of molded polyurethane materials and Nitrophyl nitrile rubber floats to the firm's facility in Suzhou, China.
The move is being made because of the continuing shift of Rogers' customer base for the materials outside the U.S., the company said, adding that the business has had a 50-percent decline in revenues during the last four years. That resulted in significant operating losses in 2003, it said.
The majority of the 125 workers at the factory will likely be laid off, although Rogers said it is hopeful some will find employment at one of its two other locations in Connecticut. About 95 percent of the jobs at the plant will be moved to China. A few salaried employees will be retained and moved to the firm´s headquarters, according to the company.
The first layoffs are expected to take place in April and continue throughout the year.