HARPERSFIELD TOWNSHIP — After six consecutive years of growth, Nordic Air Inc. recently conducted two rounds of employee layoffs, company owner Ron Clutter confirmed Thursday.
“We have seen some expected drop in orders, as anyone should expect from the recent slowdown in the economy,” Clutter said. “We are making the appropriate long-term moves now to maintain a sufficient order backlog to keep the maximum amount of employees secure.”
Nordic Air produces climate-control equipment for a variety of markets, including the U.S. military.
Clutter told newspapers the company was holding steady in 2008, telling reporters, “Every market we serve has grown.”
Clutter would not reveal the number of employees who got pink slips during recent months, nor would he confirm the number of employees on the company payroll. However, Clutter said in 2008 the company employed 200 workers at its two Harpersfield Township plants.
Clutter said in 2008 that Nordic Air, which hires hourly production workers through temporary employment agencies, always has at least 200 applications on file. New employees spend their first 90 days working through the agency. Their next 90 days are spent as Nordic Air employees, on probation. Only after 180 days of proven work attendance and performance are they taken off probation. Employees, both temporary and full-time, are subject to random drug-testing.
In a statement to the press, Clutter said Nordic Air is still a successful enterprise.
“We are still very successful and merely don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves so as to incur any more business risks than are prudent to accept, when in business,” the statement reads. “Our business outlook continues to be positive, and we are continuing to secure our market share of orders when they become available in the marketplace.”
Nordic Air’s increased business, including a five-year $45 million contract with the U.S. Marine Corps, a $60 million to $90 million contract with the U.S. Air Force and an $800,000 contract with the U.S. Navy, caused the company to expand. Limited in growth by Harpersfield Township’s lack of sanitary sewers, Clutter became the face and motivation for the successful Geneva-Harpersfield Township joint economic development district (JEDD). A JEDD is a separate taxing district set aside for economic development. Townships are not allowed to tax income per state law. However, creating a JEDD within that township establishes a taxing district.
Local News
Business cools for Nordic Air
Company won’t release numbers on how many got pink slips
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