Firestone Building Products Company announced Friday it will close its Kingstree plant in mid-2011, putting about 190 employees out of work.

The company blames over-capacity, and says over the next few months, the company will consolidate manufacturing of EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) roofing membrane into its larger facility in Prescott, Ark.

In a news release sent late Friday, Ken Weaver, President, FSBP and Chairman, CEO and President of Firestone Diversified Products, said, "With the economy not recovering as quickly as expected, demand for commercial construction products, particularly in the new construction segment, continues to suffer. Over the past two years, FSBP has reduced the number of shifts it operates in nearly all its facilities, and also reduced the number of production days in some locations. In combination with productivity improvements, these proactive steps have not sufficiently realigned production capacity with overall reduced demand."

FSBP says they started meeting with government officials in Arkansas and South Carolina last fall to discuss possible EPDM consolidation between the company's two facilities. After reviewing proposals from both states, and factoring in related costs due to product mix and equipment relocation, FSBP says it made the decision to close the Kingstree plant.

The Kingstree plant will go through a gradual operations phase down. A tentative closure date of July 1st has been given.

According to a company spokeswoman, Tina Gaines, the Kingstree employees can apply for open positions at the Arkansas facility.