TAUNTON, MA—About 100 employees had to be evacuated from the Quebecor World RPC plant Wednesday morning when a press caught fire, according to the Taunton Daily Gazette. There were no injuries. Officials speculated the fire could have been started due to a defective bearing component, the paper reported. The facility produces retail inserts.
The Argus Press, one of the nation's top commercial printers and communication resource companies, and a division of Nationwide Graphics/Premier Print Organization (NG/PPO), is proud to announce that Joseph Kellenberger has become President of The Argus Press in Niles, IL.
MEMPHIS, TN—Verso Paper intends to take about 100,000 tons of downtime related to coated groundwood production during the first half of 2009. About 85,000 tons of the downtime will be in response to market conditions in the coated paper industry, with the balance being related to planned maintenance outages. Those facilities impacted by the downtime will be determined as the first half of 2009 progresses.
A year after officially announcing the intention to consolidate production of water-based inks, INX International Ink Co. recently opened a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Homewood, a southern suburb of Chicago. A larger facility than the ones INX closed in Kalamazoo, MI, and in nearby Elk Grove earlier this year, Homewood offers 80,000 square-feet of space and an interesting slice of history to go with its address at 1000 Maple Drive in the Prairie Landing Business Park.
Mike DuBose’s two-year stint as CEO of Vertis Communications came to an end with his January 1 resignation. The company has named Stephen Dyott as vice chairman and Alex Sorokin as interim president. DuBose presided over the acquisition of American Color Graphics (ACG), as well as Vertis’ reorganizational bankruptcy. Dyott, who previously served as ACG’s chairman/CEO, will serve as a senior advisor to the board. Vertis has hired an executive search firm to assist in securing a permanent CEO.
JERSEY CITY, NJ—The DG3 Group (DG3), a provider of global graphic communication solutions, has tabbed Tom Saggiomo for the role of president of the DG3 North American division, effective January 1, 2009. Saggiomo will report directly to Michael Cunningham, DG3's Group CEO. Saggiomo previously served as president and CEO of Agfa Graphics North American division. Prior to Agfa, Saggiomo was CEO and president of Lastra America, a company which he founded and grew to more than $100 million in revenues.
TORONTO—Fraser Papers has taken Valassis Communications to court, seeking payment for 1.8 million pounds of specialty paper manufactured at Fraser's Madawaska, ME, plant and shipped to a Valassis facility in North Carolina, according to the Bangor Daily News. The breach-of-contract suit seeks $933,000 for paper delivered this past spring. Fraser also seeks costs and prejudgment interest. A Valassis spokesperson could not be immediately reached for comment.
MONTREAL—AbitibiBowater Inc. is curtailing paper production capacity, predominantly newsprint, by one million metric tons in a move that will result in about 1,100 jobs being impacted in the United States and Canada. Some mills are being closed permanently, while others are being idled until further notice. The Covington, TN, paper converting facility is being closed for good, removing 70,000 metric tons of coated grades from the marketplace.
BALTIMORE—Mike DuBose's two-year stint as CEO of Vertis Communications will come to an end when he resigns on January 1. The company has named Stephen Dyott as vice chairman and Alex Sorokin the interim president, effective immediately. DuBose presided over the acquisition of American Color Graphics (ACG), as well as Vertis' reorganizational bankruptcy.
An explosion occurred at Flint Group’s manufacturing site in Slough, UK followed by a fire. The site was evacuated and the fire was quickly brought under control by local fire brigades. The cause of the explosion is not known yet.
