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Production resumes at Bemis plant rocked by explosion

By Heidi Parsons

- Last updated on GMT

Photo by David Timmerman, Grant County (WI) Herald Independent
Photo by David Timmerman, Grant County (WI) Herald Independent

Related tags Employment

Production has resumed at Bemis Performance Packaging Plant in Lancaster, Wisconsin, after a press exploded and ignited a solvent fire last week. 

Both Bemis officials and the local fire chief credited plant employees with largely extinguishing the fire, limiting damage from the explosion to the area surrounding the affected press. One employee suffered minor injuries; that individual was treated at a nearby hospital and released the same evening.

Our employees in Lancaster did an outstanding job responding to this situation safely and quickly​,” Bemis spokeswoman Erin Winters told FoodProductionDaily. “Their efforts and safe actions are to be commended.”

Winters said the facility was temporarily closed following the incident, but was deemed safe within two days and re-opened to employees last Friday. Production resumed this week on other machines within the plant. 

It is still unknown what caused the explosion, although Winters said an internal review is under way to determine the exact cause. The Lancaster Fire Department is working with Bemis on the investigation, according to reports.

Related topics Processing & Packaging