Wagon work moving to China
Associated Press
CHICAGO — Radio Flyer Inc., maker of the little red wagon loved by generations of children, plans to move manufacturing of its metal wagons to China.
Associated Press
The 87-year-old company said it would keep its headquarters and distribution business in Chicago but decided the Chicago plant where the metal wagons are built is too expensive to maintain.
Radio Flyer Inc. plans to transfer manufacturing of its little red metal wagons to China, but a Wisconsin company will continue to make Radio Flyer's plastic wagons.
With the plant closing later this year, Radio Flyer will lay off nearly half of its 90 employees.
CEO Robert Pasin, whose grandfather started the company, said he did not believe the move would hurt customer loyalty.
"We're still a Chicago company. We're still a Chicago brand," he said.
Radio Flyer's tricycles, scooters and most of its other products already are made in China.
A Wisconsin company makes its plastic wagons and will continue to do so.
