Sonoco (NYSE: SON) has begun rebuilding its molded wood plug operations, which were lost to a fire last November.
 
James Harrell, vice president, North America Converting, said the company is investing $4.6 million in the project and expects to be back in production late this summer.

Molded wood plugs are used in tubes and cores primarily for the paper industry.

“We are in the process of building eight molded wood plug presses and have designed the manufacturing area to hold 12. This will allow us to expand depending on the market demand,” Harrell said.

The new manufacturing facility will be located in an existing building next to Sonoco’s Hartselle nailed wood/plywood reels facility. The facility location also offers a team focused on the manufacture of wood products and an on-site source of wood chips, Harrell said.

“We are in the process of building eight molded wood plug presses and have designed the manufacturing area to hold 12. This will allow us to expand depending on the market demand,” he said.

The plant will employ up to 30 people and feature "modern controls and fire protection," the company said.

Sonoco, based in Hartsville, SC, is a $4.1 billion global manufacturer of consumer and industrial packaging and provider of packaging services, with more than 300 operations in 34 countries, serving some 85 nations.

Posted by Rich Christianson