Business First of Columbus reported that Worthington Industries Inc plans to close the doors of a northeastern Illinois metal framing plant next week as it copes with a downturn in the construction industry.

Ms Sonya Higginbotham a spokeswoman for the Columbus based steel processor said the Joliet Illinois plant will close on December 31st 2009.

Of the 64 employees at the plant, 20 have been transferred to a plant at Hammond Indiana about 30 miles east, while the remaining 44 will be cut loose.

Ms Higginbotham said “This closing is really in response to the continued downturn in commercial construction. Unfortunately, we are trying to match supply with demand.”

Worthington’s Dietrich Metal Framing business, which accounts for about a quarter of its parent’s annual business, saw revenue fall by 16% to USD 661 million in the year ended May 31st 2009. In the first fiscal quarter, revenue plunged by 59% to USD95.4 million.

Worthington Industries employs about 6,400 worldwide. The company lost USD 108.2 million on USD 2.63 billion in revenue in its last fiscal year.

(Sourced from columbus.bizjournals.com)