Modular home industry hit by recession
MARSHFIELD, Wis. (AP) — Prefabricated and modular homes are a segment of the housing market also hit hard by the current recession.
Wick Building Systems in Marshfield has laid off about 70 employees and has taken the unprecedented step of closing the local plant for two months — in January and February.
Wick manager Tom Polacheck says seasonal closings are standard in the construction business, but it's the first time in the company's history that the plant will close for two months. Polacheck says the company will reconfigure the manufacturing line to increase efficiency.
To survive the current economy, modular home businesses are looking beyond traditional products and distribution avenues. Stratford Homes recently shipped a unit to a ski lodge near Duluth, Minn.
Dec 30, 2008 at 6:04 p.m.
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What should be outlawed? Tordados, modular homes, trailer homes, or all of the above. Never mind!
Here is an idea. The government can "bail out" the modular home business by buying up every new trailer and modular home in America. We can put them all (empty of course) in the midst of the odious tordado belt in a remote field in Texas, Oklahoma, Minnesota, or wherever. When the dark clouds form over the gaggle of modular bait (tordados are not very smart) and the tordados drop from the sky to attack, we can nuke the whole thing, ridding us all once and for all of the dreaded tordados.
If the current Administration hurries, they can still implement the scheme. They will be heralded for winning the war on tordados; saving the modular home industry; reviving the economy via people no longer being afraid to buy homes in the tordado belt; and, putting people back to work building new modular homes. Their approval rating will sore to 80% just before the inauguration. All will be forgiven; no hard feelings; the nation is saved.
Bob Keith
Dec 30, 2008 at 11:05 a.m.
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They need to be outlawed....many of them are health hazards.
By the way, you all have made my morning!
Dec 29, 2008 at 1:47 p.m.
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Gazettefan: LOLLOOLLL!
Dec 29, 2008 at 12:47 p.m.
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test......, below is what it looks like when you don't have a comment.
Dec 29, 2008 at 12:46 p.m.
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Dec 29, 2008 at 12:03 p.m.
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Yeah, I imported a modular home from Australia just last week. It's doing great, but the water still swirls down the toilet in the wrong direction.
Dec 29, 2008 at 10:47 a.m.
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It's all because of those idiots who buy imports!
Dec 29, 2008 at 9:50 a.m.
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I take offense to your lack of comment. Couldn't you at least blame this on George Bush, or GM, or the fat-cat CEO's??
Dec 29, 2008 at 9:19 a.m.
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I just felt compelled to log on here and mention that I had absolutely no comment in response to the story whatsoever....
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