
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 10, 1990                   TAG: 9005100310
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: HILLSVILLE                                 LENGTH: Short

SPRAGUE TO LAY OFF 150 TO 170 EMPLOYEES

Sprague Technologies will lay off 150 to 170 of its 224 employees here this year as some of its aluminum capacitor production lines are moved to a plant in Lansing, N.C.

Senior Vice President Tom Browne said domination of the aluminum capacitor market by Asian manufacturers forced the consolidation.

The layoffs are scheduled to start near the end of June and will be completed before the end of the year. Browne predicted that some jobs would continue at the Hillsville plant.

Sprague opened its Hillsville plant in 1961. It had about 700 employees during the early 1970s, but its work force has gradually declined since then.

Browne said Sprague is negotiating with parties to buy other product lines, and expects to keep some manufacturing work of its own at the plant.

- Southwest bureau

by CNB