QCOSTARICA – Incesa Standard, manufacturer of kitchen and bath fixtures, announced it is moving its manufacturing operations in Costa Rica, to its plants in Guatemala and Nicaragua.
The company cited high production costs.
The plant closure in Costa Rica means the layoff of 150 people.
But the company is not close the doors completely in the country. Other departments such as sales, distribution, human resources, development and innovation, employing 170 people, will remain in Costa Rica.
“Costa Rica’s team has done a great job looking to improve their competitiveness. Unfortunately, such intensive labor and energy consumption as it is in the sanitary ware manufacturing process, it is very difficult to offset the high costs of business competitiveness, ” explained the company in a statement
“The changes we are making in our production will be done with the greatest respect for people, honoring the principles and values that characterize both Incesa as Corona,” said Ricardo Pineda, president of Incesa.
The Colombian multinational, Corona, acquired a majority interest in Incesa and American Standard in Central America. Founded in 1881, Corona is of one of Colombia’s largest conglomerates.
Other recent closings include the restaurant chains Wendy’s and Bagelmen’s.
