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The shutdown, which will occur by the end of March 2009, is part of the company's consolidation of its metal beverage packaging division.

The division will close a similar plant at the end of the year in Guayama, Puerto Rico. A second plant in Kent, Washington, closed earlier this year.

"The closure of these facilities will further reduce 12oz can capacity in our metal beverage packaging system, more efficiently allocate production and consolidate specialty can production into facilities better located to serve our customer base," said John A Hayes, Ball Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

The Kansas City plant has four production lines capable of making 1.1 billion cans in a variety of sizes.

Company officials said a weakening economy had affected the amount of production capacity needed.

A United Steelworkers union representative said he expected negotiations will lead to the Missouri Rapid Response team offering information on jobs and training for the displaced employees before the plant closes.

Ball purchased the Kansas City and Puerto Rico plants in 1998 from the Reynolds Metals Co. The Kansas City facility has operated since 1981 and has 496,000 square feet.

Ball's plans to dispose of the property will be addressed at a later date, according to Scott McCarty, a spokesman at Ball's Broomfield headquarters.

"Our focus now is supplying the needs of our customers and working with our employees to transition to the closure," he said.