Debbie Blank, Batesville Herald Tribune
debbie.blank@batesvilleheraldtribune.com
Since the early 1900s, men and women have created furniture at 4 S. Park Ave., Batesville, first when it was known as Greeman Brothers, then Romweber Co. and now Jasper Seating Co. Plant No. 9.
That tradition will soon end.
"It is with deep regret that we have decided to shut down our manufacturing facilities at Batesville and Ferdinand," said Ron Beck, Jasper Group manufacturing vice president, Jasper, in a May 29 news release. "This has been a very tough decision to make for our company, and although we have worked to reduce costs across various functions, we feel compelled to bring our manufacturing capacity in line with our current order volume."
Jasper Group plans to continue business on a limited basis at these facilities for the next 60 to 90 days as it transitions operations and inventory to its other seven plants and fulfills current orders.
Employees learned the news Thursday morning. "They brought everybody in," recalled one production worker. After associates learned their jobs would be terminated, "everybody sighed."
Coming the same week employees were supposed to have a 401(k) meeting, "It was kind of shocking" to the Batesville man. "I heard somebody say, 'You've got to be kidding me.'" Others wanted to know "Why now?" just eight months after Jasper Group purchased Romweber Co.
Plant manager Mark Limardo called the action "heartbreaking" late Thursday. "It's a lot of people." He added Friday, "We were doing so well. We were making a profit .... There was just a strategic decision to keep work in different places. It's unfortunate."
"In all, 109 Batesville employees and 24 Ferdinand employees will be affected with a job loss, while a few Ferdinand jobs will be transferred to other Jasper Group facilities in an effort to navigate through the tough economic times while remaining positioned for the future," the news report explained.
"While Jasper Group will permanently close its doors at Batesville, the Ferdinand facility will be temporarily idled, a decision that allows the company to undergo strategic restructuring to better fit current as well as future order volume."
Mayor Rick Fledderman said he was "extremely disappointed" when he found out. "I immediately thought about the employees."
Fledderman, who also serves as the city's economic development director, believed, "It's definitely going to have some effect" on the local economy.
What is his hope for the massive redbrick structures? "There may be some warehousing or mixed-use opportunities."
The mayor noted, "I've been in touch with the Indiana Economic Development Corp. regional director (Trevor Lane, North Vernon) to inform him." He said the state's Workforce Development department will send a rapid response team to Batesville to assist workers with questions and resources.
"We close our Batesville and Ferdinand operations with great sadness, but much gratitude to the hard work, dedication and contribution of each person there," Beck said.