Pella Chronicle

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Pella Corp offers incentives for retirement, voluntarily leaving workforce

Pella Corporation announced today that it is offering incentives for team members to retire or voluntarily leave the workforce at some of its facilities. The move is a result of the continued recession in the U.S. housing economy that’s projected to continue.

“Despite new home construction dropping more than 70% since 2006, our goal is to keep as many team members at work as possible during the ongoing housing recession,” said Pella spokesperson Kathy Krafka Harkema. “That’s why we’re now offering incentives for those who wish to voluntarily leave, to align our workforce size with business needs that continue to be impacted by low consumer confidence and the struggling U.S. economy.”

At this time, Pella is offering incentives for its team members who opt to voluntarily leave the workforce at a number of its manufacturing sites. In Iowa those include operations in: Carroll, Shenandoah, Sioux Center and Pella. Incentives are also being offered at Pella’s manufacturing sites in Macomb, Ill. and Portland, Ore.

The company also announced that by the end of December 2011, it will close its West Columbia, S.C. vinyl window manufacturing site, now employing 147 people, as a result of the ongoing decline in construction activity.

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October 28, 2011

Housing recession prompts S.C. manufacturing plant closure

The Chronicle

Pella — By the end of December 2011, Pella Corporation will close its West Columbia, S.C. vinyl window manufacturing site, now employing 147 people, as a result of the continuing housing economy recession.



“We consider plant closures and workforce reductions as a last resort, but new home construction has dropped more than 70 percent since 2006 and construction activity is predicted to remain soft,” said Pella spokesperson Kathy Krafka Harkema. “Therefore, unfortunately, we must reduce excess manufacturing capacity,” she said.



The company has operated the facility, located at 375 Metropolitan Dr., in West Columbia since 2004. Once manufacturing ceases there, production of windows and doors will continue at other existing sites across the United States.



Pella plans to partner with state officials to help West Columbia team members prepare new potential careers, she said.



 “As consumer confidence weakens the willingness of Americans to build new homes, our goal is to use creative approaches like voluntary incentives and furloughs to help keep as many team members at work as possible during this highly-volatile economy,” Krafka Harkema said.

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