By T. Scott Boatright
Unemployment in Lincoln Parish is about to take a jump after Ardagh Glass Packaging – North America announced to employees on Tuesday that it is shutting down its Simsboro glass plant, located off the Industry exit on Interstate 20.
The company said it expects the closure to be completed by next month, a release sent today to the LPJ by Ardagh Vice President of Marketing, Communications and New Product Development Gina L. Behrman.
That release reads as follows:
“Ardagh Glass Packaging – North America (AGP – North America) continues to focus on enhancing our overall performance as a leading supplier of glass packaging to the food and beverage industries.
“Our multi-year performance optimization program, involving targeted investments in enhanced capacity and ongoing cost optimization, underpins our ability to continue to provide existing and prospective customers with high quality, American-made sustainable glass packaging.
“Pursuant to this program and in response to recent weakness in market demand, we have today announced certain adjustments to our manufacturing footprint involving the closure of our Ruston (Simsboro), Louisiana, and Wilson, North Carolina glass production facilities, effective mid-July 2023. Existing customers of these facilities will continue to be supplied from alternative locations in our network.”
In 2018, around 450 people were working at the plant, which was more than the 350 workers the facility needed to employ to stay in compliance with its deal with the state.
As news of the impending closure spread Tuesday afternoon, it was being said by some that changes to the company’s deal with the state of Louisiana could have played a role in its decision to close the plant.
