AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT POLY-PAK INDUSTRIES

Melville, New York-based Poly-Pak Industries, a manufacturer of consumer and commercial plastic packaging and municipal signage, has announced a reduction in force.

The reduction will impact 146 employees at its plastic bag manufacturing facility, with separations commencing on May 1, 2025.

The decision was driven by the high cost of doing business on Long Island and the expiration of the company's lease. The location of the new office and manufacturing facility is unknown at this time. It appears that the property will be transformed into a $137.5 million four-story, 299-room, luxury extended-stay hotel.

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something terrible hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. While many employees can read the writing on the wall, why do most assume it’s targeted at someone else? Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT STYROPEK USA

Houston, Texas-based Styropek USA, a major manufacturer of expandable polystyrene, has announced the closure of its BVPV Styrenics chemical facility in Monaca, Pennsylvania. The plant makes the polystyrene beads that go into styrofoam products like cups and take-out containers.

The closure will impact 140 employees in January 2025, with the plant's total closure expected by early 2026.

According to Andreas Plettner, “When we purchased the Beaver Valley facility in October 2020, Styropek knew it was an acquisition of an aging facility. While we made progress in better operationalizing the plant during our roughly four years of operations, the industry has continued to evolve, and the economics of the current market, paired with our long-term goals and sustainability initiatives, make continued investment increasingly difficult.”

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something terrible hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. While many employees can read the writing on the wall, why do most assume it’s targeted at someone else? Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT WIRTHWEIN NEW BERN CORP.

New Bern, North Carolina-based Wirthwein New Bern Corp, a subsidiary of a Germany-based plastics technology company offering plastics tooling, production, assembly, and logistics to various industries, has announced a reduction in force.

Depending on circumstances, the reduction will impact approximately 50 employees, commencing in May 2024. However, the company has filed a State WARN notice for all 120 employees.

According to a company spokesperson, Wirthwein New Bern makes plastic parts for dishwashers, Samsung products, and the automotive industry, among other things. The company has about 120 employees. The remaining 50 to 60 employees at Wirthwein New Bern will service German appliance maker BSH Home Appliances Corporation exclusively. BSH also has a plant in New Bern.

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?