Genova Products goes dark
Genova Products, the Davison, Mich.-based maker of vinyl plumbing products, has closed at least some of its facilities, and skipped a recent trade show.
Layoffs began Jan. 28 in Fort Wayne, Ind. A former Fort Wayne employee shared a termination letter with Fort Wayne’s NBC. It reads:
“Over the past several months, Genova has faced various economic challenges. These challenges resulted in the issuance of a letter by Genova’s secured lender advising Genova that it was in default of its loan covenants and confirming that no additional funding would be provided to Genova for its operations. Over the past several months, Genova has been working tirelessly to try to locate a strategic partner to either purchase Genova’s assets and continue operations or infuse necessary capital into Genova’s operations.
It continued: “We expect the closing to be permanent in nature. This closing will involve cessation of all operations and termination of all employees at the site.”
Until recently, the company operated five facilities throughout the U.S. – in Fort Wayne and Rensellaer, Ind.; Paducah, Ky.; Faribault, Minn.; and Sparks, Nev. Repeated calls to all the company’s locations failed to connect with any person. Calls to Sparks, Nev., lead to the message: “the number you have dialed is unallocated.”
Late Monday, an operator at the company's headquarters picked up a call and indicated the company remains in business. However, no one picked up in the human resources department when the call was transferred.
At the Do it Best Spring Market in Indianapolis, Genova Products was listed as an exhibitor in the market guide, but the company’s booth space on the market floor was taken over by Charlotte Pipe.
Genova has been a fixture at hardware and plumbing trade shows, where it often displays a mascot made of PVC pipe. The company was founded in 1962.
Layoffs began Jan. 28 in Fort Wayne, Ind. A former Fort Wayne employee shared a termination letter with Fort Wayne’s NBC. It reads:
“Over the past several months, Genova has faced various economic challenges. These challenges resulted in the issuance of a letter by Genova’s secured lender advising Genova that it was in default of its loan covenants and confirming that no additional funding would be provided to Genova for its operations. Over the past several months, Genova has been working tirelessly to try to locate a strategic partner to either purchase Genova’s assets and continue operations or infuse necessary capital into Genova’s operations.
It continued: “We expect the closing to be permanent in nature. This closing will involve cessation of all operations and termination of all employees at the site.”
Until recently, the company operated five facilities throughout the U.S. – in Fort Wayne and Rensellaer, Ind.; Paducah, Ky.; Faribault, Minn.; and Sparks, Nev. Repeated calls to all the company’s locations failed to connect with any person. Calls to Sparks, Nev., lead to the message: “the number you have dialed is unallocated.”
Late Monday, an operator at the company's headquarters picked up a call and indicated the company remains in business. However, no one picked up in the human resources department when the call was transferred.
At the Do it Best Spring Market in Indianapolis, Genova Products was listed as an exhibitor in the market guide, but the company’s booth space on the market floor was taken over by Charlotte Pipe.
Genova has been a fixture at hardware and plumbing trade shows, where it often displays a mascot made of PVC pipe. The company was founded in 1962.