Myers Industries to close two Canadian plants

Ohio-based Myers Industries, Inc. has announced that it will close three facilities and reallocate production to other company facilities as part of its optimization of its Lawn and Garden segment.

In addition to closing a production facility in Sparks, Nev. that produces nursery containers and other horticultural products, the company will shutter two plants in Canada.

In Surrey, B.C., the company will close a facility that manufactures decorative resin planters and nursery containers by July 2009. And in the city of Brantford, Ont., Myers will close one material reprocessing facility and reduce capacity and headcount at another manufacturing facility by March 2009.

According to the company, it will eliminate 200 jobs, in addition to the nearly 200 jobs cut in 2008 in the lawn and garden segment of its operations.

Production from the three shuttered facilities will be transferred to the segment’s five remaining manufacturing locations.

“After a thorough review, it was determined that this realignment will strengthen the competitive position of our lawn and garden brands by consolidating to strategic locations where we can utilize our high-speed molding capacity, reduce operating costs and achieve greater customer service efficiency,” said company president and CEO John Orr.

The company estimates that it will achieve annualized pre-tax savings of approximately US$20 million beginning in the third quarter of 2009, despite the worsening economy.

“The decision to close any facility is extremely difficult, and we are mindful of the impact our employees, their families and the communities in which we operate. Unfortunately, due to the weakened economy and changes in the lawn and garden market, these tough actions are necessary,” said Orr.