Aqua Glass plant closing

Jan. 18– With new housing starts still showing weakness, an Aqua Glass plant is shutting down.

Parent company Masco Bath told The Courier this afternoon that the Aqua Glass manufacturing facility in Klamath Falls, Ore., will cease production activities March 30.

Like the Aqua Glass plant in Adamsville, the west coast facility makes bathroom and shower products.

The Adamsville operation has seen several rounds of layoffs in the wake of the slow housing market.

"This was an especially difficult decision because of the quality of the workforce, but necessary due to economic conditions," said Kathleen Vokes, director of communications for Masco Corporation.

The 51 employees will be offered outplacement services and other benefits to help during the transition,  she said.

Vokes declined to comment on the outlook for the Adamsville plant.