Business Management - Operations

Sonoco announced that it will permanently close its Lancaster, Ohio, uncoated recycled paperboard mill, effective May 16, 2009, according to James Harrell, division vice president and general manager, Paper North America.

The Flexible Packaging Association announced its 2009 Board of Directors. Directors are elected by FPA voting members through mail ballot. Directors are elected for a term of one year and assume their directorship at the FPA Annual Meeting.

LUXEMBOURG—Flint Group has announced a customer-oriented organization structure aimed at enabling customers to have full access to Flint Group’s broad product portfolio through a single sales contact, supported by in-depth technical support. The company said this will align the organization to market segments and customer applications enabling Flint Group to provide advantages to customers through value, quality, and innovation while delivering enhanced benefits on a communication, technical expertise, service, and support level at a lower cost.

Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation announced that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Delaware, has granted final approval of its $750 million debtor-in-possession (DIP) credit facility, which provides the company with access to the full amount of the facility.

MGI USA, a manufacturer of multi-substrate (paper and plastic) digital press and finishing solutions, announced that they have added six new dealers to its U.S. network within recent months.

This week marked the completion of the Hurricane Ike restart project at the DuPont Sabine River Works plant. The site’s ethylene unit began operation this week and was the site’s final unit to return to normal operation.

MARIETTA, Ga.—Graphic Packaging International, Inc. plans to close four manufacturing facilities, and transition their business to other U.S. operating locations. The company's folding carton facility in Tuscaloosa, Ala. is expected to discontinue production by the end of the second quarter of 2009. It also expects to close folding carton plants in Morris, Ill. and Muncie, Ind. during the third quarter of 2009 and a multi-wall bag packaging facility, in Cantonment, Fla., by the end of the third quarter of 2009. Graphic Packaging also a permanently laid off about 60 employees at its Elk Grove Village, Ill. folding carton facility.

RIVER FALLS, Wis.—Print UV 2009 has booked a return engagement March 8-10 at the new Encore Wynn Las Vegas. Following the success of the inaugural Print UV conference in 2008, organizers of this year's event are putting the final touches on an educational and networking program designed to promote the growth of UV printing throughout the graphic arts industry.

TOPEKA, Kan.—The Foil Stamping & Embossing Association has announced that it will change its name to the Foil & Specialty Effects Association, but will still remain the FSEA.

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands—The  Global Release Liner Industry Conference, hosted by AWA Conferences & Events, will be held March 4-6 in Miami, Fla.