A. Schulman announces latest aggressive steps to improve profitability in its North American operations

Closing of Canada Facility Expected to Save $6-7 Million in Fiscal 2009 and $9-10 Million Annually

11-Feb-2008

A. Schulman, Inc. announced two aggressive steps in its continuing effort to improve the profitability of its North American operations. The Company has decided to shut down its manufacturing facility in St. Thomas, Ontario, and to pursue a sale of its plant in Orange, Texas.

"Our plan is to achieve more efficient and effective utilization of our North American manufacturing facilities and to drive profitable growth," said Joseph M. Gingo, President and Chief Executive Officer. "By consolidating production, we will improve overall capacity utilization. In addition, we plan to exit low-margin businesses which no longer fit our strategy of focusing on higher value-added products. These steps confirm our commitment to do what is necessary to restore our North American operations to long-term profitability and steady growth."

The St. Thomas, Ontario plant primarily produces engineered plastics for the automotive market, with a capacity of 74 million pounds per year and approximately 120 employees. By closing the facility, the Company expects to save $6-7 million in fiscal 2009 and an estimated $9-10 million annually beginning in fiscal 2010. Production related to low-margin business at the St. Thomas plant will be discontinued and the remainder will be absorbed by the Company's Nashville, Tennessee plant and, possibly, the Bellevue, Ohio plant. The shutdown is expected to be complete by the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2009.

The Orange, Texas plant has primarily provided third-party tolling services in which the Company processes customer-owned materials for a fee. A. Schulman has decided to exit the tolling business to concentrate on higher value-added products. In addition, approximately 20% of the activity at the Orange plant has involved compounding-related services for A. Schulman proprietary products. The Company expects to reduce logistics costs by transferring this portion of the plant's production to its other manufacturing facilities.

Total annual capacity at the Orange plant is approximately 135 million pounds. A. Schulman's goal is to find a buyer and close the sale by the end of fiscal 2008.

The Company expects to take charges related to the St. Thomas closing and the Orange plant sale. While the exact amount and timing of the charges are undetermined at this time, the Company expects total charges in the range of $10-15 million.

https://www.chemeurope.com/en/news/77740/a-schulman-announces-latest-aggressive-steps-to-improve-profitability-in-its-north-american-operations.html