Citing a shrinking demand for catalogs and magazines — and rising costs for ink and paper — commercial printing giant LSC Communications is stopping the presses at its two plants in Lancaster County, laying off about 656 workers
- The closure comes more than two years after LSC was rescued from bankruptcy by a Connecticut-based conglomerate called Atlas Holdings.
- Executives had been working to stabilize and grow the business, according to a statement from LSC CEO Stephanie Mains.
- But the company continues to face headwinds from falling demand and rising costs. Companies also are turning more often to digital channels.
- LSC is moving print work done in Lancaster to plants in Maple Grove, Minnesota, and Warsaw, Indiana, according to a spokesperson.
- “The consolidation decision was made after having exhausted all other options for the business. It has zero to do with our team members’ abilities or commitment; they are exceptional workers and people, and we’re doing everything possible to support them during this transition period,” Mains said in a statement. “Our Lancaster employees have earned their place in the rich history of American printing, and we are thankful for their contributions to the company and their local community.”
What’s next: The two plants are slated to close by the second quarter of this year, according to LSC.
- The company is providing severance packages, job placement assistance and other help to affected employees, according to the spokesperson, Melissa Noebes.
Where are the plants: Both are in the city of Lancaster.
- One — employing about 276 people — is at 216 Greenfield Road.
- The other — employing about 380 people — is at 1375 Harrisburg Pike.
- It was not immediately clear what LSC planned to do with the plants, which have been operating for decades.
- Noebes did not respond to follow-up questions yesterday afternoon.
- The two plants employed about 1,200 people in 2020.
The background: LSC spun out of Chicago-based printing company R.R. Donnelley in 2016.
- Donnelley — which printed everything from books and catalogs to magazines and phone directories — enjoyed a long, storied history in Lancaster, as documented in a 2020 story in LNP.
