Flooding in Thailand forces Hutchinson Tech. to hire stateside temp workers

by Matt Sepic, Minnesota Public Radio

St. Paul, Minn. — Minnesota-based hard drive parts maker Hutchinson Technology has hired temporary workers for its state-side factory because of flooding at its plant in Thailand.

The company has hired about 55 temporary employees for its factory in Eau Claire, Wis., a spokeswoman said. Hutchinson Technology is prepared to bring on more people as needed. All of the temporary hires are in Eau Claire, where the company has been consolidating its U.S. operations to cut costs.

Hutchinson laid off 600 workers at its plant in central Minnesota in March. The company has struggled for several years. For the 2011 third quarter, Hutchinson Technology reported a net loss of nearly $11 million on $72 million in sales.

Flooding in Thailand forced the company to suspend its operations in early October.