Monsanto Plant, 45 Jobs Moving Out of Anaheim

The Monsanto Co. Chemical Group will become the latest manufacturer to close an Orange County plant and build a new facility in the East. The move will idle 45 workers here.

Monsanto said Wednesday it will close its 31-year-old Anaheim plant by June 30 to consolidate its operations at a new site, most likely to be built in Bowling Green, Ky. In the meantime, the manufacturing reduction caused by closure of the Anaheim plant will be filled by another company facility in Addyston, Ohio.

The Anaheim and Addyston plants are where Monsanto makes Fome-Cor board. The quarter-inch-thick board is used for graphic arts to frame pictures and as insulation in houses, mobile homes and recreational vehicles.

While a steady seller, Fome-Cor accounted for less than half of the Chemical Group’s “engineered products” sales of $145 million last year. Monsanto’s total 1991 sales were $8.9 billion.

Although other Orange County manufacturers who are moving or considering leaving have cited the high costs of meeting air pollution requirements or high labor costs because of the expensive housing, a Monsanto spokesman said neither was a “major factor” in the closure.

Some of the 45 workers in Anaheim have specialized skills that may bring offers to relocate, but most will either retire or be given outplacement counseling.

Monsanto said it plans to sell the plant site.