Sperian to Close Buffalo, N.Y. Manufacturing Facility
Sperian Protective Gloves recently announced plans to restructure the company's glove manufacturing operations. The announcement was made by Steven Spotts, vice president and general manager at Sperian Protective Gloves USA, a subsidiary of Sperian Protection.
Sperian Protective Gloves, formerly Perfect Fit Glove Company, evaluated several strategic initiatives over the past two years to improve business performance and optimize service to its customers. A key initiative was the acquisition of a state-of-the-art glove manufacturing facility in Nantong, China; this will help position Sperian as a global glove manufacturer and a reference leader in the industry. Additionally, Sperian recently established a Global R&D center in France to be positioned as the division’s source for testing and innovation.
Each of these investments along with the current economic uncertainty has necessitated the decision to close the Buffalo, N.Y. facility and consolidate production to the facility in Nantong, China. Production has already begun for a full inventory build to support a seamless transition.
According to Sperian, the Nantong facility will enable the company to strengthen its market position in key areas and better align with customer needs. Management and administrative personnel will remain in Buffalo, N.Y. to ensure uninterrupted service to customers and to build upon the many strategic initiatives underway to further reinforce their hand protection business and operations.
With nearly 6,000 employees worldwide, Sperian Protection (formerly Bacou-Dalloz) is a worldwide provider of personal protective equipment (hearing, eye, respiratory and fall protection, gloves, clothing, and footwear). The group offers innovative products adapted to high-risk environments so that workers in the manufacturing and services industries can work with confidence.