Amcor Rigid Plastics to consolidate two US factories over next 12 months

The move will affect all Des Plaines co-workers. The majority of which will be offered full-time employment in Itasca.

'Changing needs of customers in the Midwest'

Amcor said the decision to consolidate the two factories is to address the changing needs of customers in the Midwest, to provide future growth and improve its level of service.

There will be no service disruptions to customers during the 12 month relocation period.

Michael Hodges, director, communications, Amcor Rigid Plastics, told FoodProductionDaily, final disposition plans for the Des Plaines facility are still being evaluated and reviewed but it is likely the plant will eventually close.

“The packaging industry evolves and changes constantly. Our customers are continuously changing their needs to reflect the needs of changing consumer preferences and therefore, so must we​,” he said.

“Current Itasca co-workers will not experience a reduction in pay, hours or suffer any other employment loss as a result of the consolidation​.

“A number of factors contributed to the decision, including facility age, location, and available floor space.​

“Utilizing a variety of equipment, Des Plaines primarily manufactures pharmaceutical packaging​.” 

Alcan Global Pharmaceutical Packaging

Amcor Rigid Plastics acquired the Des Plaines facility from Alcan Global Pharmaceutical Packaging in 2010.

“We anticipate a vast majority of the Des Plaines equipment will be transferred to Itasca. Itasca manufactures food and beverage containers​,” added Hodges.

“The Itasca facility has adequate available floor space to accommodate the Des Plaines equipment and expanded operations​.”

The company has two other manufacturing facilities in the Chicago area; Batavia, Illinois, and a bottle production plant in the Pullman neighborhood on Chicago’s south side, which is the first LEED platinum factory for the consumer packaged goods industry, in partnership with Method.

Amcor has been making containers for Method’s biodegradable hand wash, dish soap, laundry detergent and household cleaners since 2005.

Headquartered in San Francisco, Method is incorporating green building elements into its first US manufacturing plant.

Plans call for the world’s biggest green roof at 75,000 square feet, solar panels on the building and in the parking lot, and a refurbished 230-foot wind turbine. Wind and solar energy will provide about half of the factory’s annual electrical needs.

Amcor has 23 on-site bottling operations, with 15 in Latin America and eight in the US.

The benefits of on-site bottling include reduced freight costs and carbon emissions. The use of 100% PCR resin further lowers cradle-to-gate energy consumption by 52% and the package’s carbon footprint by 57%, the company claims.