Libbey Glass Plans to Close Plant in California

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Researched by Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources, Incorporated; Houston, Texas). Libbey Glass Incorporated (NYSE:LBY )(Toledo, Ohio) has announced plans to stop production at its Walnut, California, glass tableware manufacturing plant on February 14, 2005. According to company officials, the decision to close the plant is based on the plant being unprofitable due to environmental, energy cost, and raw material issues. The company operates three glass-melting furnaces at the site. The company is relocating downstream equipment, such as glass forming machines to other plants in Toledo, Ohio, and Shreveport, Louisiana.

In addition, the company is looking to construct a new plant in China to increase profitability to begin operations in 2007. The closure will affect an estimated 200 employees.

Libbey Incorporated has been operating for over 180 years and operates glass tableware manufacturing plants in California, Louisiana, Ohio and in The Netherlands. Libbey exports to more than 75 countries employing more than 4,000 employees. The company is the leading producer of glass tableware in North America and is a recognized name in the industrial, foodservice, and retail industries. In 2003, Libbey Incorporated net sales totaled $513.6 million.

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