By Bob Niedbala, Staff writer

niedbala@observer-reporter.com

KDH Defense Systems will close its plant in Greene County by the end of the week.

Dave Herbener, KDH president, said Tuesday that the company has been committed to operating in Greene County, but with the situation involving contracts for the body armor it produces, that was no longer possible.

"It's a shame for everyone," Herbener said. "We have some very good people down there, and we hate to lose them," he said. The closing of the Greene County plant is expected to be permanent.

The company, based in Johnstown, had moved only in April from a plant in Jefferson to a building in the Paisley Industrial Park in Cumberland Township.

Last month, however, KDH announced it had laid off all but 12 of its 70 employees at the plant. Herbener said then that the company expected the lay-off to be only temporary, and it was seeking new contracts to supply the plant with work.

Tuesday, Herbener said the company still is seeking new contracts. But even if the contracts are awarded, the company plans to consolidate operations at its Johnstown plant, he said.

KDH is a leading designer and supplier of military equipment, gear and apparel. Its products include body armor, vehicle armor, hydration systems, knee pads, elbow pads and tactical pouches.

Employees at the Greene County plant had made side pouches to hold protective plates for the U.S. Army's protective vests.

"We're very sorry to hear KDH will not be operating in Greene County and are extremely disappointed at losing these jobs," Commissioner Pam Snyder said.

The county commissioners have been working with the company in seeking state grants to assist it, she said. Congressman John Murtha, D-Johnstown, also worked to help the company continue operations in the county, Snyder said.

"We did everything we could, but sometime things just don't work out from a business perspective," Snyder said.

"We know it has been a very volatile situation for the company for a while, and we only hope the work force can find other employment," she said.

KDH began operations at a plant off Route 188 in Jefferson in November 2006. It took over the building from Fechheimer Brothers Co., which produced shirts and other garments there until October 2005.

KDH had to move from the plant after the building was purchased by Ammeraal Beltech Inc., which moved its operations there from a plant on Browns Ferry Road in Cumberland Township.

Home