KraftMaid lays off workers

KraftMaid, the industry’s largest cabinet manufacturer, has laid off 175 hourly workers at factories in Orwell and Middlefield, Ohio, according to an article in the Warren Tribune Chronicle.

A spokeswoman for parent company Masco told the newspaper that, "Prolonged economic conditions have severely impacted the housing market, whether new construction or remodeling. The current climate remains challenging."

Masco’s president and CEO, Tim Wadhams, also addressed the effect of the housing and remodeling slump on cabinet sales at the Robert W. Baird & Co. analysts conference on Nov. 8.

“The marketplace has been very difficult,” Wadhams said. “Cabinets are certainly an example of that for us. We have seen in addition to the slowdown in new home construction, certainly a decline in larger repair remodel activity -- a lot of promotional dynamic in this particular segment, particularly at retail in terms of big box and dealers.”

KraftMaid supplies both Home Depot and Lowe’s with KraftMaid kitchen and bath cabinets.