TEMPLE, TX -- Wilsonart International announced that it will discontinue its Wilsonart Flooring product line and close both the Wilsonart Flooring and cast sinks manufacturing operations in Temple.

Approximately 50 jobs will be eliminated due to the closings.

Wilsonart cited the sluggish U.S. economy and continuing declines in sales of both high pressure laminate flooring and cast sink products. Wilsonart Flooring was the only high pressure laminate flooring product still manufactured in the United States and is also one of the highest priced laminate flooring offerings in the market today.

"All of these factors have worked against us and customers," said Bill DiGaetano, president of Wilsonart in North America. "Despite focused resources and programming toward building preference for High Pressure Laminate Flooring and changes in processes, procedures, people, and product, we have not been able to sustain any turn-around in our business. This convinces us that we will be unable to uphold these businesses for future growth or investment."

Wilsonart Flooring manufacturing will be discontinued on October 29, 2010 and the business will cease operations on December 3, 2010. Manufacturing operations for sinks will stop on December 3, 2010.

"As a whole, Wilsonart remains strong despite the economy," DiGaetano said. "The flooring business represents approximately 4 percent of our revenue in North America. Our focus now is on growth, innovation and renewal. We believe that these strategic moves will make us even stronger as the country moves toward recovery."

Read Wilsonart's press release.