Layoffs at Hanson Tile

Layoffs at Hanson Tile

By MELISSA BURNSED

Only fifteen months after Hanson Roof Tile celebrated the grand opening of their 120,000 square-foot manufacturing plant in Sanderson, workers were informed last week of impeding layoffs.

Twenty employees were notified that their last shift will be this Friday. The company attributed the layoffs to the country’s economic recession which has caused the bottom to fall out of new home sales and construction.

Hanson is one of the United States leading manufacturers of concrete roofing tiles and concrete products. The Sanderson site was the ninth plant opened in the United States to help meet the growing demand for supplies in the Southeast. The recent downward spiral in the housing market has led to a sharp decline in that demand and the plant had already scaled back its production and the number of employees.

The Baker County Chamber of Commerce led the drive to lure the international company to locate their newest facility locally. Darryl Register who was assistant director of the Chamber at the time, negotiated with company representatives who originally had sought information about the available land through the chambers website. Groundbreaking and construction started in 2006, with the grand opening coming in February 2007.

County commissioners approved an incentive laden package to help entice the company to bring their plant and 80 full time jobs to the Sanderson site on Arnold Rhoden Road. During their regular meeting Monday evening, the commissioners quizzed Register, who has since taken over as director of the chamber, about the developing situation. Commissioner Alex Robinson sought information on how the company’s impeding layoff would affect the incentive deal.

Register explained that the contract had specific language that allowed the company some flexibility for unforeseen circumstances. "I have spoken with a company vice president and he assured me that the plant was not closing. They plan on leaving a skeleton crew on site until the market demand picks backup," he said.

Contacted after the meeting he stated, "I am confident the Hanson is not going to close and will hire back employees. I think they will be back in business as soon as the economy improves. The company would not be continuing to invest in equipment upgrades if they truly had plans to close."

According to Dana Haydock, a public relations specialist for Hanson, the company has every intent of resuming manufacturing as soon as it is economically feasible. She added that Mr. Register was accurate in his description of the current plans for long range future of the Sanderson plant.

Hanson isn’t the only local manufacturing company that is reducing their workforce due to the slumping economy. Sanderson Pipe has also recently laid off employees as demand has slowed for their product.

"I’m afraid these two aren’t the only companies around who are being squeezed by the tight economy. When you look at the soaring gas prices it is easy to see the effects hitting all sectors of local business, from manufacturing to dairy farmers like myself. The situation will probably get worse before things start to improve," said Register.