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Local Plant Back at Full Strength
It took a year and a half, but the manager of Galesburg plant can say something he's wanted to for a long time, and even right before Christmas.

"Koppers is going back to full strength. We had a downturn starting in about mid-2009, about 11 employees laid off. We had them all called back. So, things are looking good for 2011. And, we'll be going back to a seven-day treating schedule."

Koppers Galesburg plant manager Jim Evans, who says that now brings the plant back up to 66 employees.

Evans tells WGIL the layoffs at the plant which treats railroad ties started in mid-2009, thanks to circumstances beyond their control.

"The lumber market took a slump due to the wet weather," Evans said. "With the lumber market going down, loggers couldn't get logs out. Now, with the increase in the weather, and the loggers getting the logs out, that's upped the "green" [railroad] ties coming in, which, in turn, made us call everybody back."

The recalls, Evans says, started back in August and were done gradually. He says five or six new positions are expected to be added by spring, but that job postings have yet to be done.
12 24 10 by Newsroom
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