Middletown manufacturer closing, 133 jobs lost
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
MIDDLETOWN — A Middletown manufacturer today announced it would be closing one of its facilities, leaving 133 people out of work.
Graphic Packaging International, Inc., located on Charles Street, said it plans to discontinue its folding carton manufacturing operations in Middletown by the end of the third quarter of 2008. The site included 133 salaried and hourly workers, the company confirmed.
Extras
Another company facility, a boxboard plant, will remain open with no plans at this time to close or change employee levels, officials said in a release.
About 117 people work at that facility, said Bill Murphy, economic development director for the city.
The folding carton and boxboard facilities were once owned by Jefferson-Smurfit but were purchased several years ago by Graphic Packaging.
Murphy said the city was trying to work with the new owners to meet their needs at the facility in Middletown. He said the city was told the company "was getting all their ducks in a row" and had some plans to consolidate parts of their operations.
"Unfortunately those ducks didn't include the folding carton manufacturing at the Middletown facility anymore," Murphy said.
The company said it was in the process of notifying its employees and unions of the production phase-out, and is planning to "provide appropriate assistance to the 133 salaried and hourly employees affected by the transition."
In addition to the Middletown facility, Graphic Packaging is also ceasing production at its paper lamination plant in Elk Grove Village, Ill.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jlander@coxohio.com.
