Business

East Flat Rock packaging plant adding 50 jobs

Plant manager Bob Patton shows packaging made at AGI Shorewood in East Flat Rock.

By Bill Moss, Published: January 14, 2014

EAST FLAT ROCK — ASG (AGI Shorewood), a global packaging company that specializes in consumer products packaging, announced Tuesday that it plans to expand the company's East Flat Rock plant and add 50 jobs.

The expansion is expected to add new jobs with average wages exceeding $40,000 per year, surpassing the county's annual average of $34,528. New jobs will include positions in the plant's pressroom, die-cutting, gluing, digital pre-press, customer service, production planning and shipping and receiving.
The company plans to invest $8.55 million in new real property and business personal property over a period of two years, it said in a news release.
Shorewood makes packaging for many big-selling consumer products.Real property investment is expected to expand the physical footprint of the existing 136,000-square-foot manufacturing, distribution and office operation, which was originally built in 1959. Ultimately the transformation will help the East Flat Rock plant achieve higher production efficiencies, increase manufacturing volume and bolster existing packaging offerings to help serve customers in the entertainment, personal care, health care and pharmaceutical segments, company officials said.

The plant operates through a mix of creative design work, high-quality printing and up-to-minute shipping requirements. Last year, ASG (which stands for ASG Shorewood Group) became the second plant in the U.S.

to achieve a printing standard called Pantone Certification. Pantone is a global authority on color and a provider of professional color standards for design industries.

"This expansion signifies an optimistic future for our company and is a reflection of the extremely talented workforce here," Bob Lennon, Vice President, Supply Chain and General Manager, said in a news release. "This facility continues to demonstrate an unrivaled customer focus and drive for continuous improvement. Our work gives us tremendous pride. We have the opportunity to be involved in packaging solutions for the world's most recognizable consumer products which often include household headache medication, toothpaste containers, even specialty-embossed Blue-ray ™ disc covers."
The Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development worked with the company to apply for economic incentives. Last week, the Board of Commissioners authorized $186,669 in incentives through property tax rebates for the company.
The company invited applications for the new jobs.
"The East Flat Rock facility is seeking motivated associates with a steady work history who have a desire to grow long-term with an innovative global organization," Human Resources Manager Laura Lampkin said in the news release. Candidates may forward complete resumes with salary history to Laura.Lampkin@asg-worldwide.com.

AGI-Shorewood is a global company that makes specialized packaging for home entertainment, health care, beauty, consumer electronics, confectionery and specialty foods, spirits, sporting goods and other products. It employ 3,000 people and operates 19 printing and plastics manufacturing plants in North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America, and has creative services offices in the U.S., Britain, France, China and Australia.