Share On Social
Briggs & Stratton Closing 2 Wisconsin Plants
Briggs & Stratton Corp. announced a plan to close its Jefferson and Watertown, Wis. manufacturing facilities in fiscal 2010. The power products segment facilities currently manufacture all portable generator, home standby generator and pressure washer products marketed and sold by the company. Briggs officials said the job reductions will occur by the end of the year and are partly the result of poor market conditions and a need to consolidate production at its factories.
About 100 salaried employees in Jefferson will be offered jobs at other Briggs locations, including Wauwatosa. Production at the Jefferson plant will be moved to other Briggs factories, including plants in Alabama and Georgia. The Jefferson facility will be sold, said Laura Timm, a company spokeswoman.
Outside the U.S., Briggs has benefited from low-cost manufacturing plants it opened in the Czech Republic and China. The Czech plants serve Briggs’ European market, including fast-growing Eastern European countries. According to some reports, Briggs has resisted moving all its manufacturing plants overseas because the U.S. plants can reportedly build an engine with 30 minutes of labor, making them very efficient. Having plants in the U.S. also gives the company a competitive advantage in being able to respond to U.S. hurricanes, snowstorms and other power-related emergencies.
Latest News
Stihl Hits Major Manufacturing Milestone In Virginia
Stihl Inc. announced the production of its 75 millionth powerhead at the company’s headquarters in Virginia Beach, Va. This milestone coincides with the company’s 45th year of manufacturing operations in Virginia. Stihl established its American…
EPA Opts For Single E15 Rule
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a single draft rule to expand sales of higher ethanol blends of gasoline and curb biofuel credit speculation, after having contemplated separating the measures. Under the U.S. Renewable Fuels…
VP Racing Fuels Acquires Tennessee Industrial Site
VP Racing Fuels, Inc., acquired a new property and facility in Huntingdon, Tenn., citing a favorable atmosphere for business growth and development. With all that the location has to offer, VP feels it is ideal…