Houseboat builder suspends operations in Kentucky facility
By IBI Magazine
Sumerset Houseboats shut down one of its two production facilities on May 1, citing weak retail sales of houseboats. A company spokesperson told IBI that it has transferred production from Monticello, Kentucky, to its primary facility in Somerset, Kentucky. "These actions are in response to the double-digit drop in demand experienced by the US marine industry over the past year in a progressively challenging sales environment that we believe is due to the slow economy," said Steve Lochmueller, CEO of Sumerset Houseboats, in a statement. About 53 people lost their jobs in Monticello, but 22 of those will be placed in the Somerset facilities. The company opened the "satellite" Monticello facility in 2005 to handle "production overflow", according to the spokesperson. But a dip in retail sales forced the company to consolidate operations.
(8 May 2008)
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