Packaging supplier closing plant

Packaging supplier closing plant

Photo via pixabay.com

A maker of plastic packaging materials is closing a plant in the region and laying off 42 workers.

Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based Graham Packaging Company notified the state of Michigan last month it is shuttering its facility at 926 S. Waverly Rd. in Holland and laying off all employees at the plant.

The employees were notified on June 25.

Some production lines will begin to shut down in September, with some workers laid off at that time.

The expected closure date of the whole plant is Oct. 23, subject to change “based on customer demand and operational issues.” The remaining employees will be laid off on that date.

Although the affected employees do not have bumping rights, they can apply for open positions at the company’s other locations, says Mike Field, senior HR business partner at Graham Packaging, in the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act notice to the state.

“They will receive consideration for employment at other facilities based on their qualifications and work history in Holland,” he says.

Various job titles are affected: forklift operator; maintenance electrician and technicians; packaging specialist; process technician; quality assurance; shipping clerk; administrative specialist; production supervisor; plant controller; plant manager; and more.

Nine of the positions are salaried and the rest are hourly.

As of press time, about 100 job openings are listed at Graham’s various locations.

Graham Packaging

Founded in 1970, Graham Packaging Company — a subsidiary of Reynolds Group Holdings — manufactures customized blow-molded plastic containers for the food, beverage, household, automotive, chemical, personal care and health care industries.

Graham produces more than 16 billion units annually at almost 70 plants in North America, Asia, Europe and South America, according to the company.

Its current U.S. locations are in Michigan, Texas, Kentucky, Virginia, Oregon, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Georgia, Oklahoma, Utah, Delaware, Nevada, Washington, Tennessee, Florida, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Illinois, Arizona and Missouri.

The company has more than 7,000 employees in 16 countries, according to its website.

The company has annual revenue of about $1.7 billion, according to Nasdaq.com filings.