Layoffs follow low sales at Goss press makers in NH

DURHAM, N.H. — A number of layoffs were made at Goss International following low sales over the past six months affecting primarily the Durham community.
While early 2011 started out strong for the worldwide manufacturers of printing equipment, presses and finishing systems, the last two quarters of the year yielded a lower order volume and required the plant, the largest Goss facility in the United States, undergo some restructuring.
Greg Norris, communications manager, said the number of people laid off in this attempt at reorganization is not being released, but internal communications at the company are calling it a “limited reduction in force.”
Norris said it does not fall into the category of a “major layoff.”
He said the policy for releasing more specific information on the number of employees let go requires a number impacting the nature of operations in the U.S. and the Durham layoffs do not.
Town Administrator Todd Selig said Goss, which consolidated its facility there after closing its Dover plant, is the town’s largest taxpayer and a valued member of the business community.
“They do employ a number of Durham residents, and of course we want them to be successful,” Selig said. He noted the plant diversified its focus to transcend printing technology and include windmill technology, promoting renewable energy.
The company employs over 700 people in the U.S., Norris said, with smaller facilities in Texas and Illinois. Worldwide, there are about 2,300 employees and major manufacturing centers in North America, Asia and Europe. Shanghai Electric, an international group focusing on industrial technology, brings in annual revenues of more than $8 billion.
Norris said the economic climate both in this country and elsewhere and that of the print and media industry has contributed to lower sales. He said both the economic climate in the US has not been as strong as it once was as well as spending on advertising.
“We remain optimistic that our technology and organization gives us some relatively strong prospects,” Norris said.
Having new products to introduce and strength in technology “gives us hope for the future,” he said.
While the print and media industry faces certain challenges at this time, he said, Goss is looking toward the future.
“We feel we’re in a strong position relative to other suppliers in the industry,” he said.

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