Volant’s Wheat Ridge, CO manufacturing operation,which was to have become the last domestic ski making plant next monthfollowing K2’s final sourcing shift to China, is closed. All of the plant’s 95employees were laid off this morning with about 80% of U.S. orders for theupcoming winter season shipped. Whether remaining U.S. orders will bedispatched at some point remains unclear. Late last week, the company completedshipments of all European and Japan orders for the 2001-2002 ski season.

In an official statement, Volant blamed its plight onthe current economic investment climate and the high cost of U.S.manufacturing. As of late last week, the ... Log in to view full article.