Fypon closing two PU-millwork plants

By Angie DeRosa, UT Akron BureauArchbold, Ohio- Fypon Ltd, US maker of polyurethane -based architectural millwork products, is closing two production facilities and one distribution site, with a loss of over 300 jobs.The former Style Solutions Inc. of Archbold only acquired the three Fypon operations in November last year and, as of Feb. 22, the consolidated companies will operate under the Fypon name. The firm, which has been established for more than 30 years, says it makes over 8000 different items, broadly defined as exterior architectural detail products such as polyurethane entrance and window trim, pillars and balustrades; it also offers custom-designed items. These are sold to new housing and remodelling markets.The closures include Fypon's former headquarters facility in Seven Valleys, Pennsylvania, and its other PU millwork facility, in Stewartstown, Pennsylvania. Both sites are leased. According to the firm's layoff notice filed with the state, 162 workers will be affected at Seven Valleys and 167 at Stewartstown, including management and line employees, officials said."We know this decision has a serious impact on the lives of many people and on several communities," Dave Goulette, vice president and general manager of Fypon, said in a news release."We spent a great deal of time evaluating the situation and trying to find a way to successfully continue operations at the original Fypon locations," he said. "Unfortunately, we were unable to make this happen. Now we're focusing our attention on supporting and assisting the people who will soon be without jobs."The company also will close a Fypon distribution site in Hunt Valley, Maryland, said spokeswoman Kathy Ziprik."These are two very similar companies," Ziprik said by telephone 16 Feb. "There's such great overlap. It made sense to consolidate in Archbold."The company retains Fypon's Baltimore, Maryland, headquarters, but will now have production facilities only in Archbold and in China."