Sonoco informs employees of closing

Employees of the local Sonoco Products Co. plant have been notified the plant will close by the end of May, officials said.

Plant Manager Andy Holden said the closing of the Florence-Lauderdale Industrial Park plant is part of an overall strategy from the company, which produces consumer and industrial packaging products.

Holden said 36 employees are at the plant. He said the company and state career center officials are assisting them in seeking other employment.

In addition, they would be considered for openings at other Sonoco plants, he said.

“Plans are to cease operations by the beginning of summer,” Holden said. “The timeframe is for production to be over at the end of May.”

Sonoco has been in Florence approximately 34 years, he said. “The reason for the closing is basically the same you’d hear anywhere — overall strategy, and to maximize assets and machine utilization,” Holden said.
http://www.timesdaily.com/news/local/sonoco-informs-employees-of-closing/article_e9adaae3-0a69-52e1-b71f-7355e3f7a219.html