(Source: La Crosse Tribune (La Crosse, Wisc.))
By Steve Cahalan, La Crosse Tribune, Wis.
Sep. 15--Citing the slow global economy, Chart Industries Inc. is laying off 90 more employees at its Chart Energy and Chemicals division plant in La Crosse, effective Sept. 28.
Coupled with layoffs earlier this year, that will increase the number of idled employees to 212, or about 40 percent of the plant's workforce.
After the Sept. 28 layoffs, the plant will have about 304 working employees, said Joel Guberud, the company's La Crosse site manager. The La Crosse plant makes industrial heat exchangers that often go into natural gas, industrial gas and petrochemical plants.
"As a result of the continued slowdown and a softening in order intake, Chart must continue to size the business in proportion to the amount of business which is currently available," Guberud said.
He added that the number of order cancellations has significantly decreased and quote activity with prospective customers has increased slightly. "While these are all positive signs the markets may be bottoming out, all global indicators are suggesting this recession may have longer-lasting effects, especially in the industrial markets we serve," Guberud said.
The industries for which the La Crosse plant makes many of its heat exchangers have been buffeted by the past year's global economic downturn. It was only two years ago that the company completed the second phase of a two-part expansion of its La Crosse plant, which increased employment.
Chart Industries is based in Garfield Heights, Ohio, and makes equipment used to produce and store liquefied natural gas and industrial gases.
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