Nautic Global Group to close plant

BENTON, Ill. – Nautic Global Group, Godfrey Marine and Rinker Boat Company parent, plans to suspend operations in August at its Benton, Ill., facility, The Southern Illinoisan reported in a story yesterday.

About 75 people are employed at the plant. They will lose their jobs when the facility closes and were notified about the closure at the end of May, NGG Marketing Director Steve Tadd told the newspaper.

The plant opened in 2003 as Godfrey Marine and is expected to end operations in August, although the closure could be temporary, Tadd said.

“There are essentially two reasons why we are ceasing operations in Benton,” Tadd told The Southern Illinoisan. “First, the boating market is very, very weak right now, and second, Nautic has 11 plants, all of which were acquired by the global group that now owns Godfrey Marine. The group has made a huge investment in lean operations and lean manufacturing.

“We have consolidated our footprint,” Tadd continued. “Being more efficient, combined with a boating market that is going through a major, major downturn led to our decision to close the Benton plant until such time as conditions would allow us to reopen it.”

The company has no plans to sell the building and will evaluate operations and market conditions before making any move in that direction, Tadd told the newspaper.

The plant manufactures Polar Fishing Boats. Another NGG facility will take over the operations.

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