Armstrong Closing NC Engineered Hardwood Plant

Statesville, NC, Feb. 15, 2011 -- Armstrong is idling production of engineered hardwood flooring at its Statesville plant in April.

The company told the Charlotte Observer that continued weak markets and productivity gains in Armstrong's other flooring plants are to blame for the cutbacks.

Company officials told the state in a Feb. 11 letter that the layoffs will occur between April 18 and April 29 and that hourly layoffs will be temporary.

The Statesville plant has operated since 1989. Armstrong acquired the plant when it bought Triangle Pacific Corp. in 1996.