Plant closure leaves many without jobs

Another Shelbyville industry has shut its doors, leaving more than two dozen without work during the holidays.

Manuli Stretch USA Inc., Railroad Avenue, closed its Shelbyville plant earlier this month, but will reportedly expand its product offerings available from offshore affiliates.

The Italian company, Manuli Stretch Group of Milan, had acquired Quintec Films Corporation in late 2007. Manuli is a major stretch film producer.

According to Plastics News, the local facility, which was a two-line operation with 25 million pounds per year film capacity, was "judged too small to pursue the wide range of markets" that was staked out by its parent company.

Production was halted in early December with about 25 production employees losing their jobs, however, the location will continue as a sales office.

The Shelbyville factory focused on seven-layer specialty stretch films, Dan Maiorino, Manuli Stretch USA manager of operations, told Plastics News, but explained that the U.S. company will be now be able to offer a broader range of specialties and commodity films.

Manuli stated they would evaluate whether to relocate the production assets or resume production in Shelbyville or elsewhere in North America at a later date, according to Maiorino.

Maiorino said that the company would primarily source from Manuli's largest facility in Germany, and some from Argentina and Brazil. The company also has production plants in Italy and England.

Manuli Stretch USA also manages a warehouse in Los Angeles and is looking to set up warehouses in the northeast United States and Canada.