Genmar closes Oregon boat building plant
MINNEAPOLIS – Genmar Holdings, Inc. is planning to consolidate its Seaswirl Boats Culver, Ore. operation into its Little Falls, Minn. manufacturing facilities, which make Larson and Glastron models, it reported in a statement earlier this week.
This comes a few months after the company relocated some of the larger Seaswirl models and all the boat brand’s sales, marketing, customer service and administrative activities to Genmar’s Sarasota, Fla. facilities and offices.
Genmar President and COO suggested Genmar would benefit from the move by leveraging “numerous competencies and efficiencies in the areas of manufacturing, engineering and transportation.”
“What is most significant here for Seaswirl’s dealers and customers are Genmar’s new product development plans, which are being aggressively pursued,” he said. “Not only will Seaswirl’s development plans be more efficiently executed utilizing the Little Falls and Sarasota resources, but the capabilities of those facilities can more effectively support Seaswirl’s planned growth objectives.”
The transition is expected to take place over the next 60 days, with 170 employees being impacted.
“Where possible, opportunities will be provided to the employees to relocate to either Little Falls, Minn.; Sarasota, Fla.; or one of Genmar’s other facilities,” the company stated.
Seaswirl President Curt Olson has decided not to move to Sarasota and thus will retire after 19 years at the company. Taking over Olson’s sales, dealer network, marketing, product development and customer service responsibilities will be Bob Chew, Seaswirl vice president and general manager, who is based in Sarasota.
- For more of the latest news, click here.
