DuPont Automotive Systems, Troy, Mich., the automotive original equipment coatings unit of DuPont, announced in May that it will reduce its workforce at the Troy site by 50 people, effective July 1, through company redeployment, normal attrition and, as needed, severance programs. The positions affected include coatings laboratory technicians, sales and marketing, technical field and support personnel. Other DuPont automotive businesses in plastics, elastomers and air-conditioning refrigerants operating out of the Troy site are not affected.

"This difficult decision to go beyond ongoing productivity improvements and variable cost reductions is in response to lower than forecasted vehicle build schedules and rising raw materials costs that have been difficult to pass on," says Stephen L. Cox, vice president - Americas, DuPont Automotive Systems. "We are undertaking extra efforts to identify open positions in other businesses within DuPont to minimize the numbers of people who would otherwise have to leave the company."

For those employees who are not able to find positions within DuPont in other businesses, the company will offer its Career Transition Plan. This plan includes severance pay and an extension of benefits as well as other forms of assistance to help people affected to find other employment.

In April, Tiger Drylac Powder Coatings moved to its new facilities at 1261 E. Belmont St., Ontario, Calif. The 35,000ft2 building provides 9,000 ft2 of office space, housing the company's headquarters personnel, plus the West Coast sales staff. It also provides 26,000 ft2 of warehouse space.

The move of office and warehouse to the new building, which is located next door, frees up space in the former building for an expansion of the West Coast production facilities (to 27,000 ft2). This facility is one of seven worldwide production facilities for the company. Four are located in North America, one in Europe, one in China and one in Viet Nam.

Visit www.tigerdrylac.com for more information.