(entrepreneurs listen up) Last Flatware Factory In U.S. To Close

[ensho]

http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2010031222/last-flatware-factory-us-close


There's only one flatware factory left in the US, a former Oneida plant bought by Sherrill Manufacturing. In spite of the fact that there's a brisk market in flatware in the US, and that the facility is highly productive and state-of-the-art, the plant will be closed and 80 workers laid off.

Earlier this month, the news came out that the Obama administration was going to close the office that reports on jobs lost due to globalization, so that it will be much, much harder to check any claims about whether trade was a net cost or benefit to the American worker. While writing about it, I was watching Modern Marvels: Chrome, and they profiled this plant, the last domestic flatware maker, telling viewers:

... "In 2000, the Sherrill Manufacturing facility produced about 170 million pieces of stainless steel flatware. By 2008, due to overseas competitors, that number had dropped to only 10 million pieces." ...

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let them go. I'm sure some smart americans will figure out how to make and sell homegrown flatware that is of quality and is good looking and/or original and exciting.

[rfranklin]

1. Unfortunately, the replacements will be made in China...

and every bite of food may include a dose of mercury or cadmium.

[HopeHoops]

4. Yeah and a lot of the stuff from China says not to put it in the dishwasher - hand wash only.

Not because it is quality stuff, mind you. It is because it will cause "discoloration". In other words, it is really crappy metal.

[yellerpup]

2. Kick!

"I'm sure some smart americans will figure out how to make and sell homegrown flatware that is of quality and is good looking and/or original and exciting." And I will buy it! I looked at every retail outlet in the county when I shopped to replace my flatware and ONLY ONE said that the utensils may have been made in the USA. That's the one I bought.

[Ozymanithrax]

3. If they just made guns or bullets, this wouldn't be happening.

[DURHAM D]

5. Oneida began as a utopian commune in mid-1800s.

End of an era.

[ensho]

6. kicking cause we need someone(s) to make US flatware

nt