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FACTORY EMPLOYMENT ON THE MEND

WASHINGTON, DC - The US manufacturing sector is finally snapping its years-long streak of job losses, according to the most rent figures published by the Department of Labor (DOL).

From August 2000 to January 2004, the DOL said, the sector had shed nearly 3 million jobs, but because of a combination of factors - "an improving economy, a declining dollar that is moderating the price of US exports, and a possible slowdown in output per worker" - factory employment is finally showing signs of "a robust revival."
 
Factories added 32,000 jobs last month in May, while job growth was reported in three construction-related manufacturing industries - fabricated metal products, wood products and nonmetallic mineral products, including concrete and cement. In addition, employment also rose in the computer and electronic products sectors during the month.
 
Since January, factories have added 91,000 jobs, primarily in its durable goods component with "the labor market as a whole improving and showing widespread growth."

The pickup in factory employment is particularly encouraging because of the huge declines the sector has suffered for more than three years, the DOL said.

Singled out for employment growth in May by the agency were textiles; wood and wood products; industrial and commercial equipment and computers; fabricated metals; furniture; transportation and equipment; apparel; electronic components and equipment; instruments and photographic equipment; primary metals; food; rubber and plastic products; glass, stone and aggregate; chemicals; printing and publishing; and paper.

ADSTYLE AND ENNIS AGREE TO MERGE

ANAHEIM - Southern California-based Adstyle Apparel, a privately held manufacturer of t-shirts and fleece goods, has signed a definitive agreement with Ennis Inc of Midlothian, Texas, to merge in a tax free exchange of stock which would create a full-service provider of printed business products and promotional apparel (t-shirts & fleece goods) with over $525 million in annual revenues, and approximately 7,000 employees in North America.

The combined company will retain the Ennis name and will be headquartered in Midlothian.

Upon closing of the transaction, Roger Brown, President of Alstyle Apparel, will stay on for 18 months in his current capacity reporting to Keith Walters, Chairman, President and CEO of Ennis. Brown will fill the first available director position of Ennis after the transaction closes in the fall of this year.

Ennis' customers are independent forms brokers or printers who have grown their businesses through the sale of promotional products to businesses in North America.

The profile of a current Ennis customer today indicates that less than half of their sales revenues constitute forms sales with the remainder comprised of commercial printing and promotional product sales.

"The combination of the two companies will provide both the Alstyle and the Ennis combined customer bases with a broad array of high-quality, long-, medium- and short-run print products and solutions, financial documents, print fulfillment, labels, collateral materials, POP commercial printing, forms and logistics services, and promotional products (both apparel and non-apparel goods) through their respective sales channels," said a press release announcing the deal.

The Boards of Directors of both companies have unanimously approved the agreement.

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