Clarios Recycling plans to shut down its distribution and battery recycling facility in Florence, South Carolina as part of a decision to strengthen its global, advanced battery technology position. The move will affect about 360 employees.
The plant produces around 17mt of lead ingots per hour and its operations consist of lead battery breaking, separation, melting, smelting, refining, and casting.
The recycler said in a statement that production is scheduled to terminate in Florence on Mar 22 in line with the company’s efforts to reorganize its US operations, consolidate central skills, and maintain its high-level focus on customer service, according to media reports. The official closure will complete by January 2023 as the site will continue to monitor emissions.
The company will maintain its other regional facilities that include its Florence distribution site and its manufacturing facility in Oconee. Employees affected by the shutdown will be provided alternative options.
The plant has operated in the region since 2007 under Johnson Controls who sold its business to a Canadian company that re-formed the business into Clarios in early 2019, per reports. Reports also indicated that the company considered expanding two of its sites near Florence via county ordinance of $100mn in investment, however, this did not take place.