“It’s very frustrating.” Neighbors complain about noise from Klöckner Pentaplast facility in Rural RetreatSkip to contentBirthdays and AnniversariesRegional ObituariesDigital Advertising ServicesContestsNewsLivestreamsHometown WeatherSubmit Photo or VideoTarget 7SportsWe the PeopleSalem Fair ContestHomeElection ResultsYour Vote VirginiaPresidential Election MapVirginia Interactive ResultsWest Virginia Interactive ResultsNewsLocalWhat's Being BuiltYour Vote VirginiaUnsolved Virginia7@fourHere @ HomeAir7Early YearsGood NewsGrown Here at HomeHistoryWDBJ7 ArchivesTarget 7CrimeEconomyEducationEntertainmentHealthMornin'NationalSafetyLivestreamsHometown WeatherWeather NewsInteractive RadarMapsSkyCamsFirst Alert Weather DayWeather ResourcesWeather StreamClosings & DelaysBack to SchoolSportsFriday Football ExtraScoreboardCollege Sports PreviewCollegeMarch MadnessWDBJ7 PodcastsHometown StoriesSlight Chance of ScienceHometown Sports ExtraThe ProcessEarly YearsHometown HealthNoticias de la Cuidad EstrellaHear @ HomeCommunityCommunity CalendarBirthdays and AnniversariesContestsBlack History MonthHometown EatsPetTalkWDBJ7 PodcastsHometown Veterans: Honoring our HeroesYour Hometown MattersThis Is Home Viewer EditionGood News Here at Home7 @ FourHometown MentorRegional ObituariesWDBJ+Contact UsMeet the TeamWZBJ24Public ServiceSubmit a StoryWDBJ7 CareersGray Media Group CareersWDBJ E-NewsProgramming ScheduleNextGen TVZeam - News StreamsSubmit Photos and VideosCircle CountryGray DC BureauInvestigateTVWatching Your WalletPowerNationDigital Marketing13 weather alerts in effectDismiss Weather Alerts Alerts Bar“It’s very frustrating.” Neighbors complain about noise from Klöckner Pentaplast facility in Rural RetreatBy Kaira WillisPublished: Jun. 30, 2025 at 6:05 PM EDTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInRURAL RETREAT, Va. (WDBJ) - Imagine listening to a loud hum all day, every day. That’s what some people in Rural Retreat tell us they’re dealing with due to a manufacturing facility. Klöckner Pentaplast is a German-based company that manufactures plastic films and trays for packaging. Neighbors living near the facility tell us the noise is unbearable. Dennis Fortuner and Becky Harrison have to deal with the noise on a daily basis. They describe it as a piercing hum that they have to drown out with other noise.“I have to turn on something to try and block it out, yeah, but it’s a frequency that you can’t really block out when you’re trying to sleep. I hear it when I’m lying in bed. I hear it through my bathroom window,” said Becky Harrison.The noise is coming from “chillers” at the nearby facility. They said it’s disturbing the peace, and it’s difficult for them to simply enjoy being outside because of the non-stop hum. “I can actually hear it inside my home with the TV on, okay? I wake up to it. I go to bed to it. It’s all day long,” Dennis Fortuner said. “It’s just a constant hum. There’s no end to it. I can’t sit on my porch and enjoy my front porch. It’s very frustrating.”Klöckner Pentaplast said chillers are a common and essential element of safe and effective operations, especially during warmer weather, saying in a statement:“Our own chillers were recently inspected by our supplier, who confirmed that they are operating within the standard decibel range. That said, we have been in contact with Rural Retreat town management to review and assess the situation, and we continue to explore potential mitigation options.”The Rural Retreat town manager sent us a statement:“The Town of Rural Retreat prioritizes the best interests of our citizens, firmly believing that every individual deserves a peaceful quality of life. We are hopeful that through continued discussions with local citizens and Klöckner Pentaplast, a resolution will be reached swiftly.”It’s a resolution that, for people like Fortuner and Harrison, can’t come soon enough.Copyright 2025 WDBJ. 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View Ben Cook’s profile on LinkedIn, a, Ben Cook Summary Ben Cook, based in Charlottesville, VA, US, works at Klöckner Pentaplast. Ben Cook holds a 2020 - 2023 North Carolina State University. Ben Cook has 1 emails and 1 mobile phone numbers on RocketReach..