Outsourced Hanger Plant Back Open in Monticello
Company Currently Has 14 Full-Time Workers
Updated: 7:11 pm CDT July 3, 2008
MADISON, Wis. -- Many people see the wire hangers that they get with their clothes from the drycleaners as a nuisance but a group of workers in Green County are viewing them as a source of income.In Monticello, where an industry once feared lost to foreign competition, is now up and running.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportShanti Industry is making wire hangers like for dry cleaning businesses around the Midwest and its doing something hardly ever heard of -- bringing work back to Americans, WISC-TV reported.Monticello is welcoming back an industry all but lost to outsourcing.Amy Loeffel is thankful to be back on the line at Shanti Industry."This community really needs jobs like this, so the more we get in here, the better," said Loeffel. She said that it felt great to be back on the line.The domestic hanger manufacturer has experienced production highs and dealt with the majority of hanger production moving to Chinese plants," WISC-TV reported."We were packed into this building like sardines," said plant supervisor Tom Marty.Said Loeffel, "It's devastating to watch your friends walk out the door, I was fortunate I was one of the last ones to leave."After the U.S. Department of Commerce found that steel wire hangers were being sold under fair market value, a tariff was imposed on its Chinese production and that's being credited for bringing outsourced work back to Monticello, WISC-TV reported."We're in the process of building up our production," said Marty.Spools of wire waiting to be twisted, cut, packaged and sent off are all around the plant. "It's just good to be back," said Loeffel.Said Loeffel, "No matter how small it is, it's extremely important to me. I get up every space day, it's hard work but I'm glad to do it."At its peak, Laid Law, which sold to Shanti, had 65 workers. Currently, Shanti has 14 full-time workers and the company is in the process of hiring 20 more people, which includes adding a second shift, WISC-TV reported.Shanti Industries mainly manufactures hangers for Chicago and Minneapolis.The plant supervisor said they are only the manufacturers. Local dry cleaning owners interested in buying from them should contact Shanti's distributing partner, Laid Law in Illinois, WISC-TV reported.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportShanti Industry is making wire hangers like for dry cleaning businesses around the Midwest and its doing something hardly ever heard of -- bringing work back to Americans, WISC-TV reported.Monticello is welcoming back an industry all but lost to outsourcing.Amy Loeffel is thankful to be back on the line at Shanti Industry."This community really needs jobs like this, so the more we get in here, the better," said Loeffel. She said that it felt great to be back on the line.The domestic hanger manufacturer has experienced production highs and dealt with the majority of hanger production moving to Chinese plants," WISC-TV reported."We were packed into this building like sardines," said plant supervisor Tom Marty.Said Loeffel, "It's devastating to watch your friends walk out the door, I was fortunate I was one of the last ones to leave."After the U.S. Department of Commerce found that steel wire hangers were being sold under fair market value, a tariff was imposed on its Chinese production and that's being credited for bringing outsourced work back to Monticello, WISC-TV reported."We're in the process of building up our production," said Marty.Spools of wire waiting to be twisted, cut, packaged and sent off are all around the plant. "It's just good to be back," said Loeffel.Said Loeffel, "No matter how small it is, it's extremely important to me. I get up every space day, it's hard work but I'm glad to do it."At its peak, Laid Law, which sold to Shanti, had 65 workers. Currently, Shanti has 14 full-time workers and the company is in the process of hiring 20 more people, which includes adding a second shift, WISC-TV reported.Shanti Industries mainly manufactures hangers for Chicago and Minneapolis.The plant supervisor said they are only the manufacturers. Local dry cleaning owners interested in buying from them should contact Shanti's distributing partner, Laid Law in Illinois, WISC-TV reported.Copyright 2008 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
