News following the Trainor Glass closure

The sudden closure of Trainor Glass Co. in early 2012 caused a major impact in the industry, affecting the way many contract glaziers and suppliers do business. Industry readers kept close tabs on news surrounding the closure, the Chapter 11 suit, and the movements of leaders from the company. Below are the top news items regarding Trainor Glass in 2012.

• Trainor Glass Co. ceases operations
  Glass Magazine has learned that Trainor Glass Co., which ranked No. 3 on its 2011 Top 50 Glaziers list with annual sales of between $150 million and $175 million, has ceased operations. As of June 2011, the company employed 676 people in offices across the country.
• Sudden closure of Trainor Glass likely to cause ripple effect across industry
  The news of Trainor Glass Co.'s sudden closure last week was met with mixed reaction across the glass industry―from surprise and sadness, to fear and uncertainty. Officials from the contract glazier notified employees by Feb. 21 that the company was immediately closing all locations and laying off all staff. At the time, Trainor employed about 500 people in 14 states.
• Trainor Glass Co. files for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy
  Trainor Glass filed a motion in the Chapter 11 case on March 13, seeking to use cash collateral and obtain post-petition financing to "pay for the costs of the preservation and orderly liquidation of debtor's assets, and to pay for the costs of administration of the debtor's chapter 11 case," according to the court documents.
• Former employee files class action suit against Trainor Glass
  Katherine McNeel, a former employee of Trainor Glass, filed a class action lawsuit March 21 against the glazing contractor. Trainor Glass ceased operations Feb. 21.
• CH Holdings relaunches Cupples brand with Bob Trainor at the helm
  CH Holdings, the St. Louis-based holding company that owns Enclos Corp. and Environmental Interiors Inc., has relaunched the Cupples brand in the domestic U.S. marketplace, according to confidential sources. CH has reportedly tapped Bob Trainor, former CEO of Trainor Glass, to lead the new Cupples team.
• UAM recoups $1.2 million from bonding company on Trainor project
  Officials from United Architectural Metals say the company recouped the $1.2 million it was owed by Trainor Glass Co. for the Firekeepers Hotel & Event Center in Battlecreek, Mich. The bonding company for the project fully paid UAM what it was owed, according to company officials.
• Paul Trainor joins Skyline Sky-Lites as manager of business development
  Paul Trainor has joined Skyline Sky-Lites of Colorado Springs as manager of business development. Former manager of the Colorado Division at the now defunct Trainor Glass Co., he has more than 20 years of experience in the glazing business, having also worked for Traco Windows and Arpal Aluminum, according to a Skyline Sky-Lites release.
• Trainor files motion to sell Southern assets to Harmon
  Trainor Glass filed a motion in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, May 15, requesting approval and authorization of a sale of substantially all of its assets in Florida, North Carolina, Virginia and Texas to Harmon Inc., according to court documents.