A manufacturing plant located in Elgin for more than 30 years will end its operations at the beginning of next year and lay off 111 employees.
Printpack Inc. will start the layoff process at its 1400 Abbott Drive building in early January, according to documents filed with the state’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification.
Layoffs will continue through April as the Atlanta-based company, which produces flexible and specialty rigid packaging, winds up business.
“It is never easy to make a decision that affects the lives and livelihoods of our association,” Chief Operating Officer Jack Austin said in a statement. “Our Elgin associates have demonstrated exceptional dedication and professionalism throughout the years. We are indebted to our Elgin associates for their resilience and will ensure an orderly and compassionate transition.”
Austin visited the plant in November to inform employees of the decision, according to an article published by www.plasticstoday.com, which said the action was due to “ongoing operational challenges.”
No one at the Elgin location was available for comment Friday.
The company is planning to offer transfer opportunities to its Elgin employees along with severance packages and career transition support, according to the plasticsnews.com report.
Printpack supplies packaging for a variety of markets, including fresh produce, pet care, snacks and health care products, according to its website. It’s been in business for 68 years and has 17 operations around the country.
A new compostable package that Printpack and Mars Wrigley developed over three years earned a 2025 AmeriStar award. It is a top award in the packaging industry that celebrates innovation and excellence.
The packaging, created for Skittles, is made from renewable materials and breaks down in under 90 days, according to AmeriStar’s website.
Manufacturing is a key industry for the city’s economy and generates more than $2 billion in economic activity annually, according to the Elgin Development Group (EDG), a division of the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce. Manufacturers employ over 10,000 people, according to the EDG website.
This year has been marked by major economic developments within the city, including the opening of Pregis, a protective packaging company that makes curbside recyclable paper mailers. The company is adding capacity to its Elgin facility.
Additionally, Elgin Community College broke ground on a 150,000-square-foot Manufacturing and Technology Center. The $85 million project will address the demand for skilled labor in fields like welding and automation in the area. It’s expected to open in fall 2026.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/05/printpack-packaging-closing-elgin-layoffs/
