19-06-2006, 03:45 PM
Consultants try to keep Winchester all-American
Friday, June 16, 2006
BY DAVID KRECHEVSKY
If it can't be "made in New Haven," at least keep it "made in America."
That's the job handed by the city of New Haven and the owners of U.S. Repeating Arms -- maker of the Winchester rifle -- to two consultants, who were hired in May to find a buyer for the company in an effort to keep the brand American made. The deadline for proposals is next Friday.
"Unless new owners can be found, Winchester Firearms will be moved wholly offshore after 140 years," states a recent news release issued jointly by the consulting firms MHB Enterprises of Saint Charles, Mo., and Workout Solutions Inc. of Guilford.
The plant closed in March, leaving 186 workers jobless. A "stand still" agreement reached May 9 with U.S. Repeating Arms gave the city 75 days to seek a buyer; the deadline for proposals is June 23, while July 15 is the date by which the best proposal could be accepted.
That doesn't mean any proposal will satisfy the two companies with a stake in U.S. Repeating Arms -- parent firm Herstal Group of Belgium, and Olin Corp. of Missouri, which owns the Winchester name and has leased it Herstal.
Michael Blank, owner of MHB Enterprises, said he's received nearly a dozen qualified proposals, including three "that have shown a specific interest to stay in New Haven at the same facility."
It will be up to U.S. Repeating Arms officials to decide whether a proposal is good enough to show to Olin, he said.
If any are also acceptable to Olin, "we can then decide who has the best offer to both parties," Blank said.
Keeping the factory in New Haven is the top goal, but Blank said it will be difficult.
Despite offers of bonding and the fact the building is located in an enterprise zone, "The costs in Connecticut are significantly higher than elsewhere," he said, adding, "If we can't pull it off in Connecticut, the fallback is anywhere in America."
Until it closed, the Winchester plant had produced rifles and shotguns in New Haven since 1866; it employed more than 19,000 people during World War II. But dwindling demand and rising costs ultimately doomed the company.
No buyer could be found before the plant closed, but Blank is optimistic, saying the company can succeed if it is better managed and its product line is refocused.
.....nu OGSÅ ejer af en 243win :-)
Favourite Quote: Vi løser ikke vore problemer ved at tænke på samme måde, som da vi skabte dem.....(Albert Einstein)
Friday, June 16, 2006
BY DAVID KRECHEVSKY
If it can't be "made in New Haven," at least keep it "made in America."
That's the job handed by the city of New Haven and the owners of U.S. Repeating Arms -- maker of the Winchester rifle -- to two consultants, who were hired in May to find a buyer for the company in an effort to keep the brand American made. The deadline for proposals is next Friday.
"Unless new owners can be found, Winchester Firearms will be moved wholly offshore after 140 years," states a recent news release issued jointly by the consulting firms MHB Enterprises of Saint Charles, Mo., and Workout Solutions Inc. of Guilford.
The plant closed in March, leaving 186 workers jobless. A "stand still" agreement reached May 9 with U.S. Repeating Arms gave the city 75 days to seek a buyer; the deadline for proposals is June 23, while July 15 is the date by which the best proposal could be accepted.
That doesn't mean any proposal will satisfy the two companies with a stake in U.S. Repeating Arms -- parent firm Herstal Group of Belgium, and Olin Corp. of Missouri, which owns the Winchester name and has leased it Herstal.
Michael Blank, owner of MHB Enterprises, said he's received nearly a dozen qualified proposals, including three "that have shown a specific interest to stay in New Haven at the same facility."
It will be up to U.S. Repeating Arms officials to decide whether a proposal is good enough to show to Olin, he said.
If any are also acceptable to Olin, "we can then decide who has the best offer to both parties," Blank said.
Keeping the factory in New Haven is the top goal, but Blank said it will be difficult.
Despite offers of bonding and the fact the building is located in an enterprise zone, "The costs in Connecticut are significantly higher than elsewhere," he said, adding, "If we can't pull it off in Connecticut, the fallback is anywhere in America."
Until it closed, the Winchester plant had produced rifles and shotguns in New Haven since 1866; it employed more than 19,000 people during World War II. But dwindling demand and rising costs ultimately doomed the company.
No buyer could be found before the plant closed, but Blank is optimistic, saying the company can succeed if it is better managed and its product line is refocused.
.....nu OGSÅ ejer af en 243win :-)
Favourite Quote: Vi løser ikke vore problemer ved at tænke på samme måde, som da vi skabte dem.....(Albert Einstein)
.....ualmindelig velinformeret i forhold til min alder ... :-)
Favourite Quote: En humlebi ved ikke, at den ikke kan flyve......Gå ud på terrassen og vift med armene...hvis du letter må du være uvidende ;-)
Favourite Quote: En humlebi ved ikke, at den ikke kan flyve......Gå ud på terrassen og vift med armene...hvis du letter må du være uvidende ;-)