Husqvarna Plans Maintenance Shutdowns, Relocation for Georgia Facilities

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--In 2009, Husqvarna Outdoor Products' (Stockholm, Sweden) worldwide sales of outdoor power products were more than $32 billion. Production at the Orangeburg, South Carolina, lawn mower plant and the two smaller Georgia plants, which are in Swainsboro and McRae, add to the growing American market for outdoor gardening machinery. The two Georgia plants are scheduled for maintenance shutdowns in July.

In 2006, Husqvarna was formed as a spin-off of Electrolux AB's (OTC:ELUXY) (Stockholm) outdoor products subsidiary Husqvarna AB, which includes important North American and European markets for chainsaws, trimmers, lawn mowers, and garden tractors.

Husqvarna is moving its U.S. outdoor products headquarters to an existing office in Charlotte, North Carolina, which is a tactic to bring global recognition to the company's growing U.S. market. The U.S. headquarters for Electrolux and Husqvarna are in Augusta. Electrolux initially said it would not relocate its Augusta North American headquarters, but now plans to do so.

The Orangeburg plant was originally Roper Corporation, which was the outdoor products plant that would later become the first manufacturing site of Electrolux. Despite various company changes at the Orangeburg plant since the 1970s and Huqvarna's officially breaking away from Elecrolux, the plant employs 1,500 workers and is most responsible for production of Husqvarna's North America outdoor products, such as lawn mowers. Although Orangeburg is the company's largest producer and employer, maintenance spending is increasing at the company's smaller Georgia facilities, where $3 million in maintenance spending is expected. The Swainsboro plant manager stated they have three lines and a lot of work coming up on their 800- to 850-ton "clearing" presses.

In 2006, Electrolux sold its U.S. outdoor products company Husqvarna AB in a move to concentrate on the indoor product business, helping the Husqvarna Outdoor Products Group achieve leadership in worldwide outdoor products sales.

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