Greg Gerber posted on December 02, 2008 05:53
DECATUR, Ind. -- Companies producing recreational vehicles and manufactured homes have taken a beating this year. But two Decatur plants making those products appear to be safe for the immediate future, their owners say.
All American Homes LLC shut down its manufactured-housing plant in Decatur last week as part of companywide “general cost-control measures,” said Thomas Gehl, secretary and director of investor relations for All American’s parent company, Coachmen Industries Inc.
However, the plant’s 170 employees were back on the job Monday, and the facility is expected to stay open, Gehl said.
And Fleetwood Enterprises Inc. this year announced the closure of eight plants producing RVs and manufactured housing. But the company’s Decatur plant, which employs 750, appears to be safe.
“Decatur is definitely part of our long-term plans,” said Heather Everett, a spokeswoman for Riverside, Calif.-based Fleetwood.
Coachmen is dealing with the crunch by selling its RV business and focusing on manufactured housing and specialty vehicles, Gehl said.
Despite soft housing sales, Coachmen’s Housing Group, comprising All American, Mod-U-Kraf Homes LLC and All American Building Systems LLC, turned a profit through the first three quarters of 2008 and also expects one for the fourth quarter, Gehl said.
The company last week filed a draft agreement to sell its RV business to Elkhart-based Forest River Inc. for $42.2 million.
SOURCE: Journal-Gazette