WEIRTON — Close to 70 area residents are expected to lose their jobs at the end of the month with the closure of a metal packaging producer operating in Weirton.

Trivium Packaging will cease its operations in the Half Moon Industrial Park on May 31, according to Wendell W. Young Jr., president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776, which represents the 66 employees at the Trivium facility in Weirton.

“The plant is closing at the end of May because the owner of the land decided to terminate the lease,” Young said.

Noting he was not speaking on behalf of the company, Young explained his understanding of the situation is the property owner, which he identified as Cleveland-Cliffs, opted to terminate the lease at 3030 Birch Drive, claiming there is a dispute over Trivium using foreign-sourced materials in its manufacturing process.

In its production of cans and other packages for use with food, beverages, paints and more, Trivium has used a particular type of laminated steel, which Young said is not as readily available in the U.S. currently.

“Trivium wants to stay there and keep the plant open,” Young said, noting there also had been discussions of expanding operations. Young said the union has been told Trivium also is willing to purchase more U.S.-made steel and have it sent to other facilities in the country to have it laminated prior to being brought to Weirton.

“That’s an expensive workaround, but they’re willing to do it,” he said, noting that, too, would take time to arrange.

Messages for comment were submitted to both Trivium Packaging’s corporate office and to Cleveland-Cliffs Friday afternoon.

Young said there have been efforts by the union to speak with state and federal lawmakers in the hope of bringing the two sides together and keeping the Trivium plant operating, but admitted there is not much time.

“By saying the plant has to close by the end of May doesn’t give enough time,” he said.

Trivium was formed in October 2019 through the merger of Exal Corp. and Ardagh Metal’s global food and specialty businesses. The company currently has more than 60 locations around the world, according to its website, employing nearly 7,500 people.