July 12, 2007 -- A metal fabrication company has announced it will close its Las Cruces factory and open a smaller operation in nearby Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. The chief executive officer of Parkview Metal Products, Nels Leutwiler, sent an e-mail to Las Cruces Economic Development and the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance saying the decision was made "after months of deliberation and looking at countless financial scenarios." The plant's closing will cost about 80 jobs.

Leutwiler's e-mail blamed "continued declining sales and intense competition from Juarez-based competitors" for the closure of the plant, which opened in 1998. He praised the Las Cruces employees and told the economic development groups the company looked forward to the displaced workers assistance they offered "to workers victimized by foreign competition." Christine Ochs, administrator of Las Cruces Economic Development, said she expects the plant to close in two months or so.

The city will look for another company to take over the location and will work with the state to try to find new jobs for the Parkview employees, Ochs said. "We want the people to find comparable work as quickly as possible," she said. Last year, Parkview said it expected to expand its Las Cruces operation. It said in October that it would close its facility in San Marcos, Texas, and hire more workers in southern New Mexico. At the time, Leutwiler also said Las Cruces' location near Mexico was a positive. The Lake Zurich, Ill.-based company works in precision metal fabrication, metal stamping and other areas.

Source: Associated Press Newswires
Source: Factiva