There has been a major layoff at one of North Bay’s biggest employers.
Fabrene, owned by Indiana-based Berry Plastics, has cut its workforce by a total of 20 hourly and salaried workers.
It happened in mid-August “through a combination of early retirements and permanent layoffs,” Eva Schmitz, Berry Plastics’ communications director, told BayToday.
“The North Bay facility is part of the company’s Health, Hygiene, and Specialties Division and manufactures product for the industrial and construction markets,” she said.
Fabrene currently employs 200 people.
“The company staffs its workforce in accordance to industry demand,” Schmitz said. “Due to recent fluctuations in demand, the company has found it necessary to take these actions.”
Fabrene manufactures coated woven and non-woven polyolefin-based products. That includes everything from house wrap used in building construction to large billboards and banners to geomembranes used as caps at landfills or pond liners.
Its products are shipped to customers in a range of sectors around the world.
“Fabrene has a strong history of innovation and offers unique product design and development capabilities that allows us to be the partner of choice for companies seeking innovative and sustainable product solutions,” reads a summary on the company website.
It was just a year ago that Berry Plastics Group completed its acquisition of AVINTIV, the previous owner of Fabrene.
Berry Plastics Group is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of value-added plastic consumer packaging and engineered materials.
