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Contrary to unsubstantiated rumors that have been circulating, the Shop-Vac plant in Williamsport is not closing its doors. It is, however, scaling back operations which has resulted in some workers being furloughed from their jobs.
"They will still be maintaining the building up on Reach Road. They will still keep the HR (Human Resources), finance, customer service, sales, their marketing, IT (Information Technology), shipping, receiving, assembly, along with limited manufacturing that will be taking place at that location," said Jason Fink, president of Williamsport Lycoming Chamber of Commerce.
"They are going to be reducing the number of people that are working there because they are shifting primary unit manufacturing overseas," Fink said.
SK Tools USA LLC, a sister company of Shop-Vac, will continue to be manufactured at the local plant.
Fink indicated that he had spoken with someone in management at GreatStar USA, which owns the company, and that they were adamant about not closing the plant or selling the building, but are being forced to reduce their production capabilities there.
When asked what reason they gave for scaling back, Fink said, "the economy right now."
"They have customers who have multiple years of inventory that they have not been able to sell," he added.
Attempts to reach the Shop-Vac CEO were not successful as of press time.