STATE OF THE INDUSTRY ON THE OFFENSIVE

•Graphic Packaging is tackling the slow year by closing down a plant and focusing on lowering costs and improving operating efficiency. It has also plans to refinance debts.

•After experiencing success in combining its label and carton businesses, Smurfit-Stone announced plans to combine its Consumer Packaging and Specialty Packaging businesses into a single organization, the Consumer Packaging Division. They are also discontinuing operations at a Mississippi corrugated plant.