Ball’s rumored closure of its metal beverage can plant in Wallkill, New York, is moving forward and 143 employees will be laid off, according to a recently filed state workforce adjustment and retraining notification.
The company had said for months that it was in discussions about possibly closing the plant and supplying the “unique can sizes” manufactured there from other facilities. During Ball’s Q1 earnings call earlier this month, CEO Dan Fisher said, “I think we are committed to closing that facility now.” The March news release said that Ball notified employees and the union about the potential closure, per the collective bargaining agreement.
The WARN posting indicates the layoffs will take place over a two-week period, starting Aug. 18 and ending Aug. 31. The company previously said space, land and equipment limitations made it difficult to upgrade the Wallkill facility, which opened in 1972.
"Contemplating a plant closure is never easy as it impacts our people," said Kathleen Pitre, president of beverage packaging North & Central America, in the March statement. "We are exploring the best way to match the growing and changing needs of our contracted customers with our extensive plant footprint."
Last year, Ball announced notable closures in Phoenix and St. Paul, Minnesota, due in part to softening demand. For the same reason, it also delayed construction of a new beverage can facility in Las Vegas.
During the Q1 earnings call, executives highlighted softer volumes and expectations that volume growth in North America would be down for the remainder of the year, despite a likely seasonal bump that traditionally occurs in the summer.
