Compounder to close Texas facility

A.Schulman Inc. has announced it will close its Orange, TX manufacturing plant no later than the company’s fourth fiscal quarter, which ends August 31, 2003. The company predicts that the plant closing will generate about $5 million in annual savings beginning in fiscal 2004.
A.Schulman has operated the 145,000 sq. ft. facility since the late 1950s. The plant’s current capacity is about 60 million lb. and its main products are black concentrates and thermoplastic polyolefins produced mainly for the U.S. auto market. The plant closing will reduce the company’s North American production capacity by roughly 12%, from 500 million lb. to 440 million lb. The company will shift manufacturing of the plant’s products to other North American facilities, according to a released statement.
“This was a difficult decision but absolutely necessary to help us align our North American capacity and cost structure with the market realities,” said Terry L. Haines, president and CEO.
In Canada, A. Schulman operates a manufacturing facility in St, Thomas, ON and a sales office in Mississauge, ON.