Trainor Closes All Nine Locations, Lets Go All Employees
February 22, 2012

by Sahely Mukerji, smukerji@glass.com

The news that veteran contract glazing Trainor Glass abruptly closed its doors yesterday, left some in total shock, while others said that the news was not unexpected.

Just one year ago named the fourth largest contract glazier in the country with sales of $110 million in nine locations, Trainor Glass originally of Alsip, Ill., ceased operation at noon yesterday and gave notice to its employees that it was closing immediately.

"I have long held the Trainor family and its business interests in the highest regard," said Lyle Hill, managing director of Keytech North America in Stafford, Va. "Apparently, the architectural glass and metal industry has lost yet another fine firm to the unrelenting and unforgiving economy that everyone has been struggling with for far too long."

Vendors and creditors began to suspect the news that the 59-year old glazing contractor was closing early in the day. "We started getting calls from general contractors asking us how much money Trainor owed us," said a Northeast contract glazier on Tuesday evening. "I called a couple of guys down there, and they said they didn't know. Then, I got five calls within an hour from Texas, Richmond and North Carolina all asking the same question. Then, I just confirmed from a management person at Trainor that they ceased operation at noon today."

Another representative at a commercial construction services firm in Charlotte, N.C., also confirmed the news and added that the firm is going through its books now to see how much money Trainor owes the firm.

"They owe money all over the place and particularly so to the unions," said a longtime industry professional. "This is going to be a real mess."

One insider familiar with the situation said it was not entirely unexpected because it has been increasingly difficult for the company to secure materials. "Once your vendors cut you off, that's it," he said.

The Northeast contract glazier said that they got an email from Trainor on Friday, February 17, morning, asking to confirm the value of all its purchase orders from his company. "No company does that unless it's in trouble," he said.

According to USGlass' List of Top Contract Glaziers for March 2012, Trainor's annual sales in 2011 was $110 million, and the company had nine locations and 400 employees. Just last year, the company reported $173 million in sales for 2010. In 2011 its sales dropped 36.4 percent. It was slated to come in number three on the USGlass magazine's list next month.

In January this year Trainor auctioned off everything from its Chicago office and four other operations, and let go 20 people in its engineering group, says another contract glazier in Dallas, Texas.

In March 2011, the company consolidated several core business units and plant production.

"This is unexpected," the northeast contract glazier said. "People thought they'd go to Chapter 11 and reorganize, but not close shop."

Reaction on the web was swift as well and many left messages on USGNN.com's message forum. Click here to leave your comment.

USGlass' calls to Trainor's offices were unanswered.

Stay tuned to USGNN.com™ as more news unfolds.

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