Smurfit Westrock is preparing to shut down its folding-carton plant in Lebanon, Tennessee, a move that will cost about 52 employees their jobs, the Nashville Business Journal reported Monday. The closure marks the latest in a string of plant shutdowns and workforce cutbacks at the global packaging giant. Details on when the plant will close, what severance might look like and where the work will be relocated have not yet been released.
Closure first flagged by local business outlet
The Nashville Business Journal first broke word of the planned shutdown and the job losses, citing notification filings and local sources. According to Nashville Business Journal, the closure will eliminate roughly 52 positions tied to the Lebanon folding-carton operation.
Where the Lebanon plant is
Smurfit Westrock’s own locations directory lists the Lebanon facility at 302 Hartmann Drive and describes it as a folding-carton plant that turns out printed paperboard and retail packaging. That address and description appear on Smurfit Westrock.
Part of a broader consolidation
Industry reports indicate the Lebanon shutdown is part of a wider consolidation push as Smurfit Westrock trims capacity and shifts production to larger or more modern facilities. As reported by Packaging Dive, company leaders have described similar closures as "ongoing optimization," with production reassigned to other plants in the network.
Help for affected workers
If Smurfit Westrock files a formal closure or WARN notice with state officials, Tennessee’s Rapid Response program would typically step in to coordinate unemployment information, job training referrals and reemployment services through regional workforce boards. According to the Tennessee Department of Labor, Rapid Response is the state’s system for quickly assisting workers after plant closures and mass layoffs.
Local ripple effects
The loss of roughly 52 paychecks is no small thing for Lebanon and could affect local suppliers along with families who have built their schedules and budgets around the plant’s shifts. This story will be updated if Smurfit Westrock or local officials release more specific information about timing or worker assistance.
