Muncie’s Ball Mason Jar Factory Set to Close
MUNCIE, Ind. — Starting next year, the iconic Ball Mason jars will no longer be made in Muncie.
Muncie has been associated with the production of Ball jars and other home canning products since the 1800s. They were originally made by the Ball Corporation, the same family Ball State University was named after.
The Ball Corporation got out of the canning business about 25 years ago.
Newell Brands announced Monday that they would be closing operations at their Muncie plant and moving the production to facilities in Fishers and Ohio.
The Muncie plant currently employs approximately 100 people is expected to close in the summer of 2019.
The company released the following statement:
“After a review of necessary upgrades and improvements to the current facility, Newell Brands has made the difficult decision to close its current manufacturing operations in Muncie, Indiana. This facility, which manufactures parts used in the assembly of fresh preserving containers, including the iconic BALL branded mason jar, will be outsourced to Ball Metal Food Container, LLC in Columbus, OH, and packaging and distribution will move to an existing Newell Brands Food Division facility in Fishers, Indiana.
As we are aware of the history this facility has in Muncie, it’s our goal to ensure a smooth transition for all impacted employees and members of the community leading up to the facility’s planned closing in summer 2019.”
(Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images.)
