The fall of 2020 may be remembered as a bit of a dark time: many Americans were still being heavily impacted by coronavirus-related shutdowns of businesses and schools, and vaccines were nowhere in sight.
In the thick of it was the Fort Wayne, Indiana, plant of California-based manufacturer Avery Dennison, who announced in October of that year that it would be shuttering the factory.
The company, which produces a variety of labels and adhesive products, told local officials that the 170 workers would be losing their jobs and the plantβs work relocated to two locations in Ohio. Avery Dennison, at the time, forecasted the process to conclude by the end of October of 2021. One local newspaper reported that the company told them the plant was too landlocked and didnβt allow any room for needed expansion.
But, oddly enough, in this case, the writing on the wall seems to have been erased. According to the Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly, the company has reversed course and will not, in fact, be closing the plant. Instead, the company will be investing in it.
According to the report, the plant will receive an amount deemed βsignificant,β and it will be used βto adapt and upgrade the siteβs infrastructure and capabilitiesβ with the ultimate goal of transitioning to become part of the companyβs βidentification solutionsβ business, which manufactures shipping labels serving the logistics industry.
According to Ryan Yost, VP/GM, Avery Dennison Identification Solutions, βthis is a long-term investment to support the strategic growth projected in the food and logistics segments,β and the company will also add capabilities at its Miamisburg, Ohio, plant.
According to the article, the company considers this investment to be a vital step in supporting the identification solutions segment and enable the plant to provide βsustainable offerings and accelerate growth in its Intelligent Labels platform.β
In the meantime, said one company spokesperson, βnothing changes. Itβs business as usual at Fort Wayne.β