Kawneer Working to Re-open Flood-Ravaged Bloomsburg Plant
September 28, 2011

By Sahely Mukerji, smukerji@glass.com

Damages are still being assessed at the Bloomsburg, Pa., manufacturing facility of Norcross, Ga.-based Kawneer Co., says Mike Belwood, director of media and corporate relations, Alcoa. The plant experienced significant flooding after Hurricane Irene barreled up the East Coast, August 27-29.

In a letter to customers dated September 13, Bob Leyland, director of sales, declared force majeure and informed that the plant has temporarily closed for repairs. The facility employs 400 people and manufactures commercial windows and storefronts, Belwood says.

Shipments from the plant will be affected by the shut-down. "… At a minimum, the shipments scheduled for September and October will be delayed," according to the letter.

"They are scheduling orders placed now to be delivered in December," says Don Chapman, manager of United Plate Glass in Sunbury, Pa. "Usually the turnaround time is no more than four weeks."

"We are working very closely with our customers and communicating regularly with them about the situation," Belwood says. "We're in recovery mode."

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