Corhart Refractories Co., a division of Saint-Gobain Ceramics is planning to close its facilities at Louisville, USA. Amongst other things, the plant produces fused cast ceramic blocks to line furnaces in the glass and steel industries. The company has been based in Louisville since 1927 but was integrated into Saint-Gobain Ceramics in 1987. A report in local paper, The Courier Journal, indicated that the closure has occurred as a result of a reduction in demand for its products following a glut of supply in N & S America. Consequently, the company has been suffering significant losses for the past five years. The phased shutdown will eliminate 150 jobs. The company intends to stop pouring material by the end of January, with finishing and assembly work expected to be complete by the end of March 2005.
