Sonoco, Hartsville, S.C., USA, has informed employees at its Florence-Lauderdale Industrial Park plant (Lauderdale County, Ala.) that the tubes and cores facility will close by the end of May 2018.

Plant Manager Andy Holden said in an article by the local Times Daily newspaper that closing of the Florence-Lauderdale Industrial Park plant is part of an overall strategy by the company, which produces consumer and industrial packaging products. Holden noted that 36 employees are at the plant. He said the company and state career center officials are assisting them in seeking other employment. In addition, they would be considered for openings at other Sonoco plants, Holden said.

"Plans are to cease operations by the beginning of summer," Holden explained in the   article. "The timeframe is for production to be over at the end of May." Sonoco has been in Florence approximately 34 years, he added.

"The reason for the closing is basically the same you'd hear anywhere — overall strategy, and to maximize assets and machine utilization," Holden pointed out.

The company leases the 3114 Kendall Drive plant from Florence, he said.

The Florence plant has had some 36 workers for several years, but at one time had approximately twice that amount.

Since its founding in in 1899 in Hartsville, South Carolina, as the Southern Novelty Co., Sonoco has grown to the point where it today has plants in 35 countries, according to its website.