The TC Transcontinental RBW plant in Owen Sound will close in the new year.
The company confirmed the closure Wednesday to its 360 employees of the facility at a meeting at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre.
TC Transcontinental confirmed the upcoming closure of the Owen Sound plant in a company release on its website.
"Continued productivity improvements across our printing network, combined with changes in our product mix, enable us to consolidate production in other facilities. As a result, we have made the difficult decision to close our Owen Sound plant," said Patrick Brayley, Chief Operating Officer, TC Transcontinental. "This decision, which affects a plant that has been part of TC Transcontinental since 1992, was not made lightly."
The RBW plant in Owen Sound was purchased by Transcontinental back in 1992 after it was acquired from the Southam commercial printing group.
The plant is set to officially close down at the end of January 2027. Brayley did confirm that the company plans to move the work in Owen Sound to five other plants across the country, and the property will be eventually sold.
"We sincerely regret the impact on our approximately 360 employees, their families and the Owen Sound community. We are deeply grateful to our current and former employees for their hard work and commitment over the years, and we will support our employees with respect throughout this transition, including through career transition services. We will also work closely with our customers through the transition," Brayley added.
Brayley told CKNXNewsToday.ca that the decision was driven by changing market conditions and the company's ability to consolidate its printing operations.
"What led to the decision, as we could share with the employees yesterday, is really a continuous evolution of the market that we're operating in, changes in product mix, and looking at balancing demand from our customers with the manufacturing capacity that we have across Canada," Brayley said.
Work currently handled at the facility will be transferred to five other plants across the country.
Brayley said some of those facilities are in Ontario and will be hiring additional employees, potentially allowing some Owen Sound workers to transfer.
"It's too early to put a specific number on it," he said. "But we are going to work with our team over the coming days and weeks to get to the best possible outcome."
The company is also arranging employment assistance through an external career services firm, along with counselling and severance for affected staff.
The announcement comes despite TC Transcontinental reporting improved operating earnings in its most recent quarterly financial results.
Brayley said the company's overall financial performance does not eliminate the need for individual divisions to remain competitive.
"Transcontinental is a relatively large organization with a multitude of operating groups, and each of these operating groups has its own economic reality," he explained.
He added that the company remains committed to the printing industry, although certain segments are facing greater pressure than others.
Brayley also acknowledged the impact the closure will have on Owen Sound, particularly families with long-standing ties to the operation.
"We are very sorry for the impact that this is going to have on them and on the community," he said.
"We're going to take every step that we can to provide support through this difficult transition over the next three and a half months and work to make the most of a difficult situation."
