Uttern halts production, lays off workers
By IBI Magazine/Lars-Åke Redéen
Swedish boat producer Uttern Båtar, which is owned by Brunswick Corp, has ceased production and will downsize its workforce by another 25 people.
After the announcement in April this year that Uttern would be laying off 25 employees, the company has now announced that an additional 25 people may have to leave the company. Uttern Båtar should then have a workforce of just over 65 people, compared with 115-120 at its peak level.
Production has also been stopped and will not resume until October 1, 2008. The reasons for these dramatic changes are declining sales, a growing stock of boats and a refreshment of the company's boat models.
There have been many rumours circulating about Uttern Båtar in recent months, but most of them appear to have been unfounded.
"We've heard rumours that production would be moved to Poland. But as far as I've heard there have never been any discussions or decisions taken about that," says Bertil Wåhl (pictured), managing director of Stockholm-based Brunswick Marine in Sweden AB.
The former managing director of Uttern Båtar, Jan Buckhöj, left the company before this year's summer vacation.
(27 August 2008)
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