Plastic cup manufacturer Solo will close three plants next year, eliminating a total of 1,240 positions. The closing facilities are in Springfield, Missouri; Owings Mills, Maryland; and North Andover, Massachusetts.

"We have invested approximately $150 million over the past two years to upgrade our manufacturing assets and increase the efficiency of our operations," said George Chappelle, Solo COO. "As a result, we are now able to be more productive within a smaller manufacturing footprint."

Other Solo facilities will absorb production and some manufacturing assets, while some will be discontinued.