but resigned in August 2000 due to financial turmoil at OMC. In March 1998 OMC laid off 200 employees after earlier laying off 348. In September 1998 OMC announced the closure of their Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Waukegan, Illinois plants over the next two years. OMC released the 1997 FICHT fuel injected motor in 1996 to meet stiffer EPA guidelines. This motor used gasoline direct injection developed by Ficht GmbH Germany. This motor had problems due to the transition phase of operation being exactly at the same trolling speed of many fishermen and had problems early on, and the smoking and knocking of these engines, along with many pistons and rods exploding out the sides of the engine block, created an aura of doom to potential new customers. Some outboard motor industry insiders have speculated the rush to meet EPA standards helped with the undoing of OMC. Statistics Incorporated: 1936 as Outboard Marine & Manufacturing Company Employees: 8,283 (1996) Sales: $1.1 billion (1996) Stock Exchanges: New York, Boston, Midwest, Pacific, Philadelphia SICs: 3732 Boat Building and Repair, 3519 Internal Combustion Engines (3 horse power to 300 horse power V8) North American factories Waukegan, Illinois - Corporate Headquarters, outboard engine component manufacturing, research & development Galesburg, Illinois Gale Outboard Motors- Department store labeled motors, parts manufacturer for Johnson, Evinrude. Lawn-Boy lawnmower engines and Equipment. Shutdown 1984. Calhoun, Georgia (Marine Power Products Group) - Johnson & Evinrude outboards, manufacturing and complete assembly Spruce Pine, North Carolina - Power Head (engine block) lost foam casting, Johnson & Evinrude outboard engines Andrews, North Carolina - Gear Case casting, machining and subassembly, Johnson & Evinrude outboards Burnsville, North Carolina - Lower Unit casting, machining and subassembly, Johnson & Evinrude outboards Sturtevant, Wisconsin - Division Headquarters, marine propulsion manufacturing, research & development Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Crankshafts, drive shafts, propellers, miscellaneous steel products, fuel system components, Johnson & Evinrude outboards Delavan, Wisconsin - Fuel system components, Johnson & Evinrude outboards Murfreesboro, Tennessee - Stratos & Javelin fishing Boats, manufacturing and complete assembly Peterborough, Ontario - Johnson/Evinrude Outboards (Closed in 1990) Lexington, TN - Cobra Outdrives Principal subsidiaries Hong Kong, Outboard Marine Asia, Ltd. Belgium, OMC Europe Australia, Outboard Marine Australia Pty. Ltd. Canada, Outboard Marine Corporation of Canada, Ltd. Mexico, Outboard Marine de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. Sweden, Ryds Båtindustri AB Brand names Johnson Outboards Evinrude Outboard Motors Gale Outboard Motors Galesburg, IL Shut down in 1963. Chris