Sonneborn Chief Executive Officer Bob Muller, center, and Petrolia Plant Manager John Halloway, right, share a laugh Tuesday at the plant. A picnic lunch was held as employees heard a business update from the CEO. The company has not had any layoffs and, in fact, has done some hiring during the worldwide economic downturn.

PETROLIA — Sonneborn employees gathered for a picnic lunch Tuesday to hear what's up with business from their chief executive officer.

Bob Muller, CEO of the New Jersey-based company, said working as a team and looking for new products are the two main reasons why the company is beginning to "turn the corner" when it comes to business.

While many businesses around the globe have closed or laid off employees as the worldwide recession spread, Sonneborn worked to keep people in their jobs.

Muller told workers and the international sales staff, which was there for a planning meeting, that as the economic crisis mounted, the company's corporate staff worked to understand how business had changed.

"As we now say, They not only changed the answers; they changed the questions," Muller said.

For the hydrocarbon manufacturer and supplier with 150 employees at the Petrolia plant, Muller said the solution has been more communication between the company's employees.

"The majority of our workers have more than 20 years of experience, so we need to talk to those who know this business the best," he said.

Jim Rapp, longtime president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 2430, as well as a 37 year member of the plant's work force, said he feels good about the company.

"Not only did we not have any layoffs, in April we had hires," he said.

Rapp said one of the challenges facing the union and company management is making sure the work force needed to keep Sonneborn productive is being hired.

"Of the 80 union members we have, 50 have 30 years or more of experience, so we're going to have some retirements coming up, and we need to have people trained and in those jobs," he said.

In another attempt to keep Sonneborn a leader in the petrochemical industry, John Halloway, plant manager, said Sonneborn's research and development team has moved from a New York facility to Petrolia.

"That's so the people who are producing product everyday have clearer communications with those looking for new products," Halloway said.

Muller said as the year goes on and Sonneborn makes business plans, cost controls will be apart of them.

"But we will always spend what is needed for health, safety and environmental protection," he told workers.

The company has made product quality a primary goal, along with the continuing effort to improve customer service and technology, he added.

"And, of course, the development of new products, which is the life blood of this industry," Muller said.

In the end, Muller said he believes the company is "better off competitively today than most of our competition.

"We have to demand a new level of improvement every day, while waiting for business to stabilize and Sonneborn to grow," Muller said.