Johnson Outdoors is consolidating its paddle sports operations into one of its two sites in Old Town, Maine, by the end of September. The goal is to improve profitability of its watercraft unit, and the measure is expected to save more than $4 million a year starting with the fiscal year 2010. The company’s plant in Ferndale, Washington, will close as a result and about 90 people will lose their jobs. This year Johnson Outdoors has already combined duties in management of the watercraft and marine electronics divisions under a single group vice president, as well as combining brand sales for the two. With this new move, all aspects of the watercraft division’s production, business support and customer service will be under one roof in Old Town by the end of December. Johnson Outdoors is also in the process of converting its modern distribution and warehouse center in Old Town, and once this is complete later this year, all operations will move there. Designed for maximum production and energy efficiency, the new center will create 48 new jobs.
