DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-70,563

RAPID DIE & ENGINEERING, INC.
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

Certification Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended ("Act"), 19 U.S.C. § 2273, the Department of Labor herein
presents the results of an investigation regarding certification
of eligibility to apply for worker adjustment assistance.
The group eligibility requirements for workers of a Firm
under Section 222(a) of the Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2272(a), are
satisfied if the following criteria are met:
(1) a significant number or proportion of the workers in such
workers' firm have become totally or partially separated, or
are threatened to become totally or partially separated; and

(2)(A)(i) the sales or production, or both, of such firm have
decreased absolutely; and

(ii)(I) imports of articles or services like or directly
competitive with articles produced or services supplied by
such firm have increased; and

(iii) the increase in imports described in clause (ii)
contributed importantly to such workers' separation or
threat of separation and to the decline in the sales or
production of such firm.

The investigation was initiated in response to a petition
filed on May 22, 2009 by a company official on behalf of workers
of Rapid Die & Engineering, Inc., Grand Rapids, Michigan. The
workers produced plastic injection molds for the automotive
industry. The workers were under an existing Trade Adjustment
Assistance certification that expired on May 31, 2009.
The investigation revealed that workers of Rapid Die &
Engineering, Inc., Grand Rapids, Michigan, who are engaged in
employment related to the production of plastic injection molds
meet the criteria for certification.
Section 222(a)(1) has been met because employment at the
subject firm declined significantly during the relevant period.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(i) has been met because sales and
production of plastic injection molds by Rapid Die & Engineering,
Inc., have decreased during the relevant period.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because imports of
articles like or directly competitive with plastic injection
molds produced by Rapid Die & Engineering, Inc., have increased.
Specifically, the U.S. Department of Labor conducted a survey of
the subject firm's major declining customers regarding their
purchases of plastic injection molds for the automotive industry
during the relevant period. The survey revealed increased
customer reliance on imported plastic injection molds during the
relevant period.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because the
increased imports of plastic injection molds by customers of
Rapid Die & Engineering, Inc., contributed importantly to the
worker group separations and sales/production declines at Rapid
Die & Engineering, Inc.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Rapid Die &
Engineering, Inc., Grand Rapids, Michigan, who were engaged in
activities related to the production of plastic injection molds
meet the worker group certification criteria under Section 222(a)
of the Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2272(a). In accordance with Section 223
of the Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2273, I make the following certification:
"All workers of Rapid Die & Engineering, Inc., Grand Rapids,
Michigan, who became totally or partially separated from
employment on or after June 1, 2009, through two years from
the date of certification, and all workers in the group
threatened with total or partial separation from employment
on the date of certification through two years from the date
of certification, are eligible to apply for adjustment
assistance under Chapter 2 of Title II of the Trade Act of
1974, as amended."
Signed in Washington, D.C., this 6th day of January, 2010.

/s/ Elliott S. Kushner

______________________________
ELLIOTT S. KUSHNER
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance