A. Schulman to close Nashville, Tenn., plant, move work to Ohio

In a move to cut costs, additives supplier A. Schulman Inc. will shutter its compounding plant in Nashville, Tenn. 

Approximately 60 jobs will be eliminated because of the closure, the Fairlawn, Ohio-based company said in a news release.

Work from the Nashville facility will be moved to Schulman’s Ohio plants in Akron and Bellvue. Schulman said it plans to invest US$7 million to expand compounding capabilities at the Akron facility, and hire 20 new workers. Construction on the expansion is scheduled to start next month.

“While it’s never easy to take such actions, we’re seeing uncertainty in the economy and flat demand as we look out into fiscal 2012 and believe these proactive steps are prudent at this time,” Schulman chairman, president and CEO Joe Gingo said in a the news release.