	kodak ek to cut polyester fiber operations eastman kodak co said it will reduce capacity and employment levels in two polyester fiber operations of its eastman chemicals division a company spokesman said the company will take some writeoff in connection with the action in the first quarter and there will probably be a further carryover writeoff in the second quarter the writeoffs will cover the costs of plants and equipment involved as well as expenses connected with the staff cuts kodak said the division will discontinue production of polyester partially oriented filament yarn or poy at its carolina eastman co plant in columbia s c and will idle mln pounds of older polyester staple fiber production capacity mostly in columbia the company said about jobs will be affected in columbia most of which are now performed by contract workers and about jobs at its tennessee eastman co plant in kingsport tenn kodak said part of the staff reduction will be achieved through an enhanced voluntary separation and retirement plan for employees of carolina eastman eastman chemical products inc and other kodak units in kingsport except holsten defense corp most of the workforce reduction is expected to be completed by april kodak said depressed prices and poor financial performance have led to the decision it said about mln pounds of poy production will be shut down as a result of its exit from the business all kodak poy production has been at carolina eastman since last year the company said annual capacity for production of kodel polyester staple fiber will be reduced to mln pounds from mln due to lesser demand it said it will proceed with a previous decision to phase in a new mln pound staple fiber plant at carolina eastman carolina eastman employs about and the kingsport units affected about the company spokesman later said the charges will be insignificant and will have no impact on ings estimates reuter 
