Pocono News Section

CertainTeed to Lay off 139 Workers in Mountain Top

CertainTeed to Lay off 139 Workers in Mountain Top - Monday, April 5, 2010 at 04:07AM EST

Reported by: Joe Holden
Monday April 05 2010
MOUNTAIN TOP, LUZERNE COUNTY -- The CertainTeed Corporation announced Monday it is shutting down its Mountain Top manufacturing plant in the Crestwood Industrial Park. The closing will impact nearly 140 employees, who will be out of work later this spring.

Below is the release from CertainTeed:

Citing the lack of strength in new home construction starts and resulting decrease in demand for insulation in the Northeastern United States, CertainTeed announced today that it is mothballing its fiberglass insulation manufacturing plant in Mountaintop, Pa.

Approximately 139 local employees will be impacted. Production will stop immediately, however, during the next several months employees will prepare the facility for mothballing, with expected completion in June.

"It is always a very difficult decision to cease operations," says Paul Valle, president of CertainTeed Insulation. "The employees at the Mountaintop plant have made great progress in the areas of safety, quality, customer service and teamwork and this decision is not a reflection on their hard work and dedication to our business. Unfortunately, customer demand has dropped to such a low level currently that we simply cannot continue to manufacture at six facilities in North America at the present time."

"I know this will have a significant impact on our employees, their families and the Mountaintop community," continues Valle. "We are committed to providing those who will be leaving the Mountaintop plant with the resources they need to identify new employment opportunities, working closely with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Rapid Response Team. This will include helping them prepare resumes, enhancing their interviewing skills, and providing moral support during this period."