Another gun related boost to the Southern Illinois Economy...
Winchester expects new hires from Army contract
By Terry Hillig
Of the Post-Dispatch
02/16/2004
Bullets bring $9.2 million
Some new hires are expected as a result of the award of a $9.2 million Army ammunition contract to Winchester Ammunition in East Alton.
The Army ammunition contracts were awarded in late December to Winchester and to Israeli Military Industries to meet increased U.S. military ammunition demands for both training and combat.
Winchester, a division of Olin Corp., will produce 5.56mm M855 cartridges to be used for military training. Production will begin in June and conclude by April 30, 2005.
Ann Pipkin, a spokeswoman for Olin, said some increase in employment was expected, but hiring details will depend on delivery schedules and have not been determined.
Winchester is the nation's largest manufacturer of small-caliber military ammunition other than the government-owned Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence, Mo.
Pipkin said the East Alton facility had produced the 5.56mm cartridge before, beginning in the mid-1980s. Winchester has several other current military contracts, including ones for 9mm NATO and 9mm frangible cartridges, 12 gauge OO buckshot and impulse ejection cartridges for the Air Force.
The M855 ammunition is used in M16 and M4 rifles and the M249 machine gun.
Winchester also produces ammunition for sporting, industry and law enforcement.
"We are pleased with this contract and will continue to actively pursue additional contracts for 5.56 and other military rifle calibers," Winchester President Richard Hammett said in a news release. Olin Corp. officials announced two weeks ago that the company's corporate headquarters would return to East Alton from Norwalk, Conn., by late this year or early next year.
Olin's roots are in East Alton, where Franklin W. Olin founded Equitable Powder in 1892. It began making blasting powder for Midwestern coal fields but diversified into small arms ammunition and changed its name to Western Cartridge in 1898.
In 1931, the company purchased Winchester Repeating Arms Co., but sold the Winchester firearms business to U.S. Repeating Arms Co. of New Haven, Conn., in 1981.
Olin employs about 3,500 people in its Winchester and Metals facilities in East Alton and is among the largest private employers in the Metro East area.
Reporter Terry Hillig
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 618-659-3638
Winchester expects new hires from Army contract
By Terry Hillig
Of the Post-Dispatch
02/16/2004
Bullets bring $9.2 million
Some new hires are expected as a result of the award of a $9.2 million Army ammunition contract to Winchester Ammunition in East Alton.
The Army ammunition contracts were awarded in late December to Winchester and to Israeli Military Industries to meet increased U.S. military ammunition demands for both training and combat.
Winchester, a division of Olin Corp., will produce 5.56mm M855 cartridges to be used for military training. Production will begin in June and conclude by April 30, 2005.
Ann Pipkin, a spokeswoman for Olin, said some increase in employment was expected, but hiring details will depend on delivery schedules and have not been determined.
Winchester is the nation's largest manufacturer of small-caliber military ammunition other than the government-owned Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence, Mo.
Pipkin said the East Alton facility had produced the 5.56mm cartridge before, beginning in the mid-1980s. Winchester has several other current military contracts, including ones for 9mm NATO and 9mm frangible cartridges, 12 gauge OO buckshot and impulse ejection cartridges for the Air Force.
The M855 ammunition is used in M16 and M4 rifles and the M249 machine gun.
Winchester also produces ammunition for sporting, industry and law enforcement.
"We are pleased with this contract and will continue to actively pursue additional contracts for 5.56 and other military rifle calibers," Winchester President Richard Hammett said in a news release. Olin Corp. officials announced two weeks ago that the company's corporate headquarters would return to East Alton from Norwalk, Conn., by late this year or early next year.
Olin's roots are in East Alton, where Franklin W. Olin founded Equitable Powder in 1892. It began making blasting powder for Midwestern coal fields but diversified into small arms ammunition and changed its name to Western Cartridge in 1898.
In 1931, the company purchased Winchester Repeating Arms Co., but sold the Winchester firearms business to U.S. Repeating Arms Co. of New Haven, Conn., in 1981.
Olin employs about 3,500 people in its Winchester and Metals facilities in East Alton and is among the largest private employers in the Metro East area.
Reporter Terry Hillig
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 618-659-3638
