While the number of employees in the manufactured housing (MH) industry in Ore. dropped from 2,000 in 2007 to around 600 by the end of last year, factory-built housing producer GreenFLEX intends to hire some of those workers at a facility in Stayton, Ore. that once made modular homes. The company produces energy efficient concrete structural panels with a layer of foam that is not only excellent insulation, but its proprietary features include resistance to hammer blows, prolonged soaking in water, fire and its ability to bend without breaking. Structurally different from manufactured homes, the interior as well as plumbing and electrical is very similar. “Wherever there is an extreme climate or a durability issue, that is where we shine,” said James Weber, a company manager. Founded in 2011, GreenFLEX has made permanent and portable housing for oilfield and agricultural workers, and intends to enter the residential market. As statesmanjournal informs MHProNews, the company expects to double its work force to over 100 as it moves into the 140,000 square foot building modular builder Karsten Homes left in 2009.
