Ball set to close Italian beverage packaging plant

15 Oct 2018 --- Ball Corporation intends to cease production at the company’s beverage packaging plant San Martino, Italy, facility at the end of 2018, following due negotiation with the trade union. Customers currently supported by the San Martino beverage container plant will be supplied by other Ball facilities in Europe.

In addition, Ball intends to convert one production line in its Nogara, Italy, beverage container plant to Sleek cans. The conversion will occur approximately one year after the planned closure of San Martino.

“Given the market environment in Italy, we need to ensure that we remain cost competitive for the long term,” says Colin Gillis, President of Ball Beverage Packaging Europe. “While closing a plant is always a difficult decision, our goal is ensuring the long-term success of the business for all of our stakeholders, including our 3,600 employees in Europe.”

The San Martino site opened in 1981. The beverage can facility employs approximately 70 people. Ball intends to carry out the proposed closure in a respectful and socially acceptable way, and to support employees through various measures.

PackaingInsights has reached out to Ball for further comments.

Ball recently inaugurated a new production plant in Spain located in Cabanillas del Campo, Guadalajara, near Madrid. With this new factory, which represents for Ball a significant investment of more than 100 million euros (US$116 million), the company expands its presence in Spain, where it already has another production facility located in La Selva del Camp, Tarragona. The plant’s capacity is contracted to existing Ball customers.