Superior Essex to close Vincennes plant by end of year, idling about 250 workers

Vincennes Sun-Commercial

Some 250 area workers will be losing their jobs at Superior Essex Inc., South Decker Road, as the plant is scheduled to be closed by the end of the year.

The company's headquarters in Atlanta issued a press release Wednesday announcing that the Knox County plant would be closed as part of a restructuring plan that would move the work done here to plants in Franklin, Tenn., and Torreon, Mexico.

"This is really not good news for the area economy," said Marc McNeece, executive director of the Knox County Chamber of Commerce.

"Those are good-paying jobs, $14-$15 an hour union manufacturing jobs, and it's going to hurt not having them around," he added.

The company, one of the largest wire and cable manufacturers in the world, had earlier this year laid off some of its workers.

"Over the past several years, Superior Essex has expanded and surpassed its competition to become the number one global supplier of magnet wire," said Stephen M. Carter, chief executive officer of Superior Essex, in the press release. "With 16 magnet wire manufacturing facilities in nine countries on three continents, we feel it is critical to ensure our ability to continue to serve our customers' growing requirements - both in North America and globally - with the most cost-effective manufacturing network."

"This is just more evidence of how we're competing in a global economy," McNeece said. "It shows how we have to stay focused on providing the best-quality education and training opportunities for our workers, and really puts the emphasis on what Vincennes University will be able to provide with it's training facilities and technology programs."