Vise Grip plant closes, ending an era in DeWitt, Neb. (moved to China, last US made boxed up today)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1208&u_sid=10473921

Published Friday October 31, 2008
Vise Grip plant closes, ending an era in DeWitt, Neb.
BY LESLIE REED
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

DeWitt, Neb. -- The last Vise Grip locking pliers and Unibit drill bits to be manufactured here were boxed up for shipping as of 10 a.m. Thursday.



It is the end of an era for this village of 572, where the plant once known as Petersen Manufacturing dominates the downtown.

Long-time employees clocked out early Thursday to take a long lunch and drink a glass of beer with co-workers that they know almost better than their own family.

It was their last day of work, although theyll be back to the plant Friday for a farewell luncheon, a group photo and, rumor has it, a souvenir pair of pliers.

Several said reality probably wont sink in until Monday, when they have no job to get up for when the alarm clock rings.

"I know what I'll do Monday," said Dennis Bors of Wilber, whose 33-year career at the DeWitt plant comes to a close. "I'll be unemployed."

He has worked at the Vise Grip factory since he was 19 years old. He took the job after his summer work as a farm hand ended.

In August, Newell Rubbermaid, owner of the plant since 2002, announced it would shut the facility. Friday is the last day of work for most of its 330 employees, with only a handful of staff remaining to wrap up paperwork and to prepare the facility for possible sale.

Manufacture of the Vise Grip pliers will be moved to China. Unibit drill bits will be made at a Newell Rubbermaid plant in Gorham, Maine.

Company spokesman David Doolittle said Newell Rubbermaid is marketing the facility in hopes of finding a buyer.

[AndyTiedye]

1. Vice Grips, For When You Haven't Got the Right Tool for the Job

[Jackpine Radical]

2. You can do anything with a Vise Grip.

Just not well or efficiently.

[Sal Minella]

6. Whaddaya mean? How else do you hold parts together while you put the duct tape on???

[Jackpine Radical]

9. I've lost more damn vise grips that way.

Ya can't get the tool free again without messing up your tape job, so ya just have to leave it embedded in the duck tape.

[Sal Minella]

10. No problem here, I just keep borrowing more from my neighbor, who has big tool board in his garage.

Hope he doesn't find out.

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. Another icon heads overseas.

How many are left?

[madrchsod]

4. good thing i have 10 different vice grips in my tool box.

i will not need to buy another vice grip for the rest of my life.

what a sad day for the workers and the american people who care enough to buy american made tools

[seasat]

5. Nooooooo!!!! Not vice grips!

I don't know how many times my couple of pairs have saved me when I had a rounded, rusted, or mangled nut. Now they're moving to the land of melamine in formula and lead in Thomas the Train. At least I can still find some reasonable priced US made tools at Sears.

[pansypoo53219]

8. try estate sales.

where i get my tools. but you find a lot of screwdrivers. i'll have to keep an eye out for a vise-grip.

[Phred42]

7. Ok boys - Obama is going to hit your anti-American ass with more taxes

because you killed American Jobs and (with any luck) new TARIFFS

Tariffs protect jobs.