Jun 24 2007
Weyerhaeuser Company today announced it will permanently close its iLevel(TM) Trus Joist(R) TJI(R) joists plant in Claresholm, Alberta, effective Aug. 30, 2007.
The decision to close the plant that employs 85 people was difficult, according to Cathy Slater, Weyerhaeuser's vice president of Veneer Technologies. "Weyerhaeuser made the difficult decision after a strategic review of the company's TJI(R) joist business," Slater said. "The decline in housing starts in the North American market provides the impetus for this decision. After careful consideration of all the options, a decision was made to close this plant."
The company will provide the affected employees with severance pay as well as job-transition services and counseling, consistent with company policy.
"Our first priority is supporting the people who will be affected by this shutdown," Slater said. "Our associates work diligently to make our plants safe and competitive. Today's announcement is a reflection of the challenging business environment we face."
The Claresholm plant was built by Trus Joist in 1966 and acquired by Weyerhaeuser in 1999. With annual production capacity of 30 million lineal feet, the Claresholm plant is the smallest of the seven TJI(R) joist facilities Weyerhaeuser owns.