SPOTSWOOD, N.J. (From news reports) - Nearly 100 workers will be losing their jobs at the end of the year when Schweitzer-Mauduit International closes its Main Street plant.
Schweitzer-Mauduit International is the world's largest supplier of fine papers to the tobacco industry. Schweitzer-Mauduit conducts business in more than 90 countries and employs approximately 3,500 people worldwide, with operations in the United States, France, Brazil and Canada.
According to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filed with the state, 98 workers will be laid off effective Dec. 31.
In announcing the third-quarter results earlier this month, Schweitzer-Mauduit CEO Jeff Kramer announced the closure of the Spotswood facility.
Kramer said the company, headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, was "able to work closely with one of our customers to further optimize our product line, resulting in our announcement to close our Spotswood, facility without sacrificing volumes," according to a company press release.
Kramer reported total sales for the quarter were $279.3 million, up 9% with an adjusted operating profit of $52.7 million, up 26%.
In a letter to Spotswood residents, Mayor Ed Seely reported "the property is up for sale, and there have already been three parties in touch with me regarding usage and what the town would be more receptive to. None of the inquiries regard housing, since the area is zoned commercial and we are working towards keeping it that way."
There are two Conrail spurs on the property with one going to the Browns Mill Yard in Sayreville, then the Northeast Corridor.
Peter Schweitzer, founder of the company, acquired the Spotswood paper mill in 1940 for $750,000 from American Salpha. The plant was expected to employ 500 to 600 people.
The plant had been built in 1930 to manufacture imitation leather but closed the following year because of the Great Depression.
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