Smurfit-Stone to Discontinue Operations at 4 Facilities

Published: January 09, 2004, By PRESS RELEASE

CHICAGO, IL, USA— Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation today announced its tentative decision to discontinue operations at its Anderson, IN, and San Jose, CA, corrugated container plants as well as its Temple, TX, and Louisville, KY, sheet plants as part of the company’s overall strategy to rationalize operations and cut costs in response to market conditions as announced in October 2003. Existing business will be transitioned to nearby SSCC facilities as the company continues to provide the quality and service that customers have come to expect, according to a SSCC press release.

“The decision to close these plants is a very difficult one," states Jim Davis, VP and GM for the manufacturer's corrguated containter division. "However, we must embrace the realities of today’s economy and deal with them accordingly. Current market conditions dictate the need to continue to optimize our physical assets and human resources in order to enhance services for our customers and improve operating cost efficiencies."

SSCC says approximately 240 hourly and 75 salaried employees will be affected by the closures. The plants are scheduled to close during the first quarter of 2004.

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