Sachs: Housing slowdown contributed to plant shutdown

In the wake of the economic and housing slump, a Maryland-based building materials manufacturer has closed its Culpeper plant — home to more than 130 local jobs — according to the county’s department of economic development.

Carl Sachs, director of economic development, confirmed that Structural Systems, Inc. has shut down its manufacturing and distribution facility located at 601 Germanna Highway and has been closed “at least a month.”

“They are closed,” Sachs said. “The last time we had any contact there was just with some maintenance people.”

The Culpeper location was one of four facilities, but SSI Chief Operating Officer Mike Hardman could not be reached for comment as to why this location closed or if the company is still operating its other facilities. Calls to the Culpeper plant were redirected to the corporate office and not returned.

SSI provides building materials to residential and light commercial markets, including roof trusses, wall and floor panels, loose lumber, windows and doors, to name a few items. The 60-acre, 175,000 square foot Culpeper facility opened in 2004 and featured 600 feet of assembly line, according to SSI’s Web site, and employed more than 130 people. Sachs, however, estimated about 175 worked at the plant.

“Anytime that number of people become unemployed,” Sachs said, “sure, it hurts. There’s 175 or so out there without income at this point in time.”

Because the Culpeper plant was located on the railroad line, the facility was also a reload services center, allowing SSI to “purchase large quantities of building material” and store materials.
Its corporate office and manufacturing center is in Thurmont, Md., but SSI also has distribution centers in Elkton and Frederick in Maryland. Although the company did not comment, Sachs had his own theory as to why the Culpeper plant closed.

“With (the housing) market pretty much shut down, I guess they made a decision that the amount of construction going on doesn’t (warrant) a satellite location,” Sachs said.

Sachs said the plant was formerly home to a furniture manufacturer, Keller Manufacturing, and the building is now up for grabs.

“This is the second time that building has gone through that type of situation in recent times,” he said. “I understand it’s currently on the market.”

Catherine Amos can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 138 or .