‘Self manufacture’ trend forces Amcor to close US packaging plant

Amcor Rigid Plastics has said it will close one of its US packaging plants at the end of this year as demand has been hit by the growing trend for ‘self-manufacture’ among brand owners.

The packaging company confirmed plans to shutter its plastic manufacturing site in New Jersey in December 2011 with the loss of 180 jobs.

The move comes as the firm admitted a trend by its beverage customers to enter the packaging production segment had hit demand.

“The facility will close due to industry moves by major customers into self manufacturing of blow molded beverage containers,” said Amcor in a statement.

Amcor said it had already implemented plans to provide an uninterrupted supply and service to customers in the Northeast of the region.

““The Delran plant is slated for closure by the end of calendar 2011. The exact timing is dependent on meeting our customers’ requirements, preferably through supply from one of our other plants,” said Larry Weber, vice president and general manager of Amcor Rigid Plastics, North America Beverage.