Owosso, Mich.-based Sonoco Protective Solutions Inc. will invest $450,000 to add equipment and employees to support new business for consumer protective packaging.
The expansion will create 27 new jobs at the company's manufacturing facility, which currently employs 102 full-time staff. Sonoco produces packaging that prevents damage and ensures product integrity for the pharmaceutical, health and beauty care, powdered beverages, electrical, appliance and automotive markets.
For the expansion, Sonoco plans to purchase new steam chest molding machines, lease new fork trucks, add air compressors, transition to a newer production data system and update the boilers in its Owosso plant.
The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $450,000 with the support of a $162,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant.
Michigan was chosen for the project over competing sites in Indiana, Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee and Wisconsin, according to a news release from the Michigan Economic Development Corp., which is supporting the project from the Michigan Strategic Fund.
Sonoco Protective Solutions operates more than 20 manufacturing, design and testing facilities in North America for its four product segments: consumer packaging, paper and industrial, protective solutions, and display and packaging. The consumer segment produces round and shaped rigid containers; fiber and plastic caulk and adhesive tubes; and aluminum, steel and peelable membrane easy-open closures for paper and metal cans.
The company is a subsidiary of Hartsville, S.C.-based Sonoco Products Co., which was founded in 1899 and produces packaging and material handling systems at more than 300 locations employing about 22,000 people worldwide.
Sonoco Products posted sales of about $7.3 billion in 2022.