Dupont Consolidation To Cost 2,800 Jobs

DuPont Co. said Thursday it would cut more than 2,800 jobs as part of a consolidation of its nylon business that will shift much of the work to more efficient machines.

The streamlining is supposed to save the company $700 million annually and give it more flexibility in the competitive business it invented 58 years ago. Nylon, chiefly used in carpeting and clothing, has become a costly and slow-growing business in recent years.

DuPont said it will invest about $150 million over the next five years to implement the streamlining. The sites that continue to produce nylon will use an improved spinning technology that is more efficient and will enable the company to significantly improve quality, said Bill Brown, a DuPont spokesman.