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

DATE: SATURDAY, June 2, 1990                   TAG: 9006020062
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

FAIRFAX COMPANY PLANS TO CLOSE ROANOKE DIVISION

A Fairfax company said it plans to discontinue its Digital Conversion Division employing 15 people in the Penn Forest section of Roanoke County because of "a poorer than expected performance" in the first half, as well as an uncertain outlook.

However, John Bell, general manager of the Roanoke division, said he hopes that it will be sold so it can continue in operation. Bell said he believes there is a market for its service of converting drawings from hard copy to electronic media.

ERC Environmental and Energy Services Co. of Fairfax, the parent company, was acquired earlier this year by a holding company with a different philosophy, Bell said.

Mark Elliott, president, said the company's interests would best be served if it were discontinued and its physical assets disposed of. Elliott said the company will take a one-time charge against earnings of $750,000, including $400,000 for the physical assets, in the second quarter. The Roanoke division represents less than 3 percent of the company's anticipated revenues this year, he said.

- Staff report

by CNB