Kimble to cut it's workforce in half

W-G Expands;

Kimble Glass

Reduces Force

A mixture of good and bad news came from two Muncie plants today.

Announcement that Warner Gear has grown to the highest peak since 1955 — and needs more workers — was tempered by Kimble Glass Co.’s notice that a curtailment in production will cut its working force almost in half.

At Warner Gear, a division of Borg-Warner Corp., 5,000 persons are now employed and an additional 200 are needed. Presi­dent E. Swain Russey said. The addition of 200 workers will raise the total payroll to the 1955 fig­ure of 5,200.

Russey said about 25 per cent of Warner Gear employes are working six days a week. He cited the current upsurge throughout the automotive in­dustry.

Employment at Kimble Glass, subsidiary of Owens-Illinois, will be reduced to approximately 180 by the end of the year, plant man­ager Edward P. Spence told em­ployes today.

The decreased employment is largely the result of reduced pro­duction schedules resulting from curtailed market demands for the ware manufactured at the plant, Spence said.

Approximately 150 employes will be affected by the drop in employment, about 40 of them salaried and the remainder hour­ly, he said.

"Every effort is being made to place with other units of Kimble and Owens-Illinois those affected by the reduction." he added.

The company said a new in­tensive sales promotion cam­paign designed to sell more of the glass blocks which are the local plant's main products will begin early in 1963.