Sep 15, 2008 8:02 pm US/Central
Solo Cup To Close Plant, Eliminating 420 Jobs
HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (Sun-Times Media Wire) ―
Solo Cup Co. will be move its Highland Park headquarters up the lakefront to Lake Forest and close its plant in Highland Park plant, eliminating about 420 jobs in the process, the company announced Monday.
Currently, Solo's headquarters employees, spread across three buildings in Highland Park and Lincolnshire, are scheduled to move into leased office space at 150 S. Saunders Road in Lake Forest in summer 2009, according to a release from the company.
"Relocating to one headquarters building will improve our efficiency and our ability to collaborate," Robert Korzenski, president and CEO, said in the release.
The company also announced the planned July 2009 closing of its
manufacturing facility in Highland Park due to improved production efficiency at its 13 other North American plants, the release said.
The closing will result in the elimination of about 420 full-time manufacturing positions in Highland Park. The company says about 200 full-time jobs will be shifted to seven other U.S. locations. About one-third of the transferred positions will remain in Illinois at the Chicago and Urbana locations.
"Increased efficiency and investment in state-of-the-art equipment are critical to being competitive in our industry and to positioning the company for growth, especially in the current economic climate," Korzenski said. "We have continued to improve the operating performance of our manufacturing facilities and we are able to be more productive in less space."
According to Korzenski, all affected employees may pursue employment opportunities at other Solo facilities and will be given priority.
"While Highland Park never likes to see any of its businesses close or relocate outside the community, the city looks forward to working with the new property owner to develop an alternative use that is compatible with the community and positive for the city's tax base," Highland Park Mayor Michael Belsky said.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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