Franklin manufacturer of roof trusses to close for now

By Joseph S. Pete, Daily Journal of Johnson County staff writer

A Franklin manufacturer of roof trusses and other home-building supplies will close until the economy improves.

Trussway Ltd. expects to close its Franklin plant within the next three or four months. The Houston-based company makes roof and floor trusses, and has suffered a sharp drop in business because of the slow housing market, officials said.

About 35 production, design and sales workers will lose their jobs.

"The economy's in the toilet," said Trussway vice president David Neves. "Everywhere, housing starts are down, and we've been forced to make some changes."

Trussway, which is one of the county's largest makers of structural building components, bought out the longtime Franklin business Meadors & Associates in August 2006.