Australia-based global packaging leader Amcor Ltd. is consolidating two of its manufacturing facilities in the Chicago area. The Des Plaines, Ill., rigid plastic packaging plant will be phased into the existing Itasca, Ill., plant as a result of changing customer needs. The transition will take place over the course of the next 12 months where the Des Plaines employees and equipment will be relocated to the Itasca site. The company said they don’t anticipate any negative impact to employees’ positions during the consolidation.

“We’ll work closely with our employees and customers to ensure this consolidation is seamless,” said Michael Curia, Vice President and General Manager of Amcor Rigid Plastics’ North America Diversified Products business unit. “The consolidation of these two operations will allow us to address the changing needs of our customers in the Midwest, provide us with future growth options and improve our level of service to existing customers.”

Amcor Rigid Plastics (Ann Arbor, MI), a subsidiary of Amcor Ltd., purchased the Des Plaines facility from Alcan Global Pharmaceutical Packaging in 2010.

Amcor Rigid Plastics currently operates two other manufacturing facilities in the Chicago area—a site in Batavia and a new on-site operation in the Pullman neighborhood on Chicago’s south side, where the Method Products cleaning products operations is located.

Amcor Rigid Plastics is among the world’s largest manufacturers of rigid plastic packaging for the food, beverage, spirits, personal care, home care and healthcare industries with 58 facilities in 12 countries.

Amcor Ltd. employs more than 27,000 people worldwide and operating in more than 40 countries throughout 180-plus locations.