April 7, 2008
Breaking News: Gardner Gunmaker To Close
The parent company of Gardner gun maker H&R 1871 announced today that it will close the plant, which employs about 230 people.
Gardner Mayor Mark Hawke called the move by North Carolina-based Remington Arms Co. Inc. a "travesty."
“H&R has always been a profitable company,” he said. “Now Remington comes in and they’re going to close them.”
Hawke also said Remington did not inform local officials about the closing until it made a public announcement today. He said the company never contacted Massachusetts agencies that provide support for businesses operating in the state.
Remington purchased Marlin Firearms Co. Inc. of North Haven, Conn., which owned H&R, late last year. Marketing Director Al Russo said the move will consolidate operations for the company, which now has four gun manufacturing sites.
“We went through a study of our facilities, and this was a strategic move for us,” he said.
Russo said he could not comment on the mayor’s statements. He said he did not have any information about H&R’s profitability or whether the company had been in touch with any Massachusetts agencies. None of Remington’s other plants are in the state.
Remington said it will complete the closure by the end of the year. It said some employees will transfer to other jobs in the company, and the rest will be offered severance, outplacement and referral services.
In 2007, Remington reported a net loss of $1.5 million and consolidated net sales of $489 million.
Gardner Mayor Mark Hawke called the move by North Carolina-based Remington Arms Co. Inc. a "travesty."
“H&R has always been a profitable company,” he said. “Now Remington comes in and they’re going to close them.”
Hawke also said Remington did not inform local officials about the closing until it made a public announcement today. He said the company never contacted Massachusetts agencies that provide support for businesses operating in the state.
Remington purchased Marlin Firearms Co. Inc. of North Haven, Conn., which owned H&R, late last year. Marketing Director Al Russo said the move will consolidate operations for the company, which now has four gun manufacturing sites.
“We went through a study of our facilities, and this was a strategic move for us,” he said.
Russo said he could not comment on the mayor’s statements. He said he did not have any information about H&R’s profitability or whether the company had been in touch with any Massachusetts agencies. None of Remington’s other plants are in the state.
Remington said it will complete the closure by the end of the year. It said some employees will transfer to other jobs in the company, and the rest will be offered severance, outplacement and referral services.
In 2007, Remington reported a net loss of $1.5 million and consolidated net sales of $489 million.
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