MONTREAL—AbitibiBowater plans to permanently close four paper mills and suspend operations at others. These actions will reportedly result in the loss of about 2,600 jobs as the company vies to save $375 million by 2009. The move by the newly formed company—created by the merger of Abitibi-Consolidated and Bowater Inc.—will lower its newsprint and commercial…
March 12, 2007—On April 1st, Muller Martini’s hardcover business segment, located in Bad Mergentheim, Germany, will be renamed into Müller Martini Buchtechnologie GmbH (Book Technology Corp.). Muller Martini is the world’s leading manufacturer of print finishing systems. In 1998, Muller Martini acquired the core product used for the manufacture of hardcover books from the former Stahl GmbH and incorporated it into the newly established VBF Buchtechnologie GmbH. Since then, this division has grown significantly. Today, the product range has been expanded to an extent that VBF Buchtechnologie GmbH is able to offer individual and efficient solutions, from stand-alone machines to complete integrated production systems. Since 2001,
Chet Pribonic Will Bring History of Customer Satisfaction, Management Excellence and Product Leadership to Growing Superwide Format Market FOSTER CITY, CA—Feb. 28, 2007—EFI (Nasdaq: EFII), the world leader in color digital print servers, superwide format printers and inks, and print management solutions, today announced the appointment of industry veteran Chet Pribonic to the post of senior vice president and general manager for the company’s VUTEk® superwide format product line. EFI’s VUTEk operations in Meredith, New Hampshire deliver the industry’s leading digital printers and inks for the fast growing superwide segment of the professional print market. “We are pleased to have an executive of Chet Pribonic’s caliber
WEST HARTFORD, CT—12/20/06—Gietz AG, Gossau, Switzerland has appointed Matik North America, West Hartford, CT as the exclusive distributor in North America for its Swiss-made line of sheet and web foil stamping machines. Matik North America is the premier provider of sales and service for European-made printing, converting and finishing machinery for the commercial printing, folding carton and packaging industries. The cooperation between Gietz and Matik reflects the great importance of the North American market for the world renown Gietz equipment and the support offered through American based parts and service availability. For information please contact Frank La Croix, Vice President of Matik North America
ST. CROIX FALLS, WI—10/05/06—Kluge, a well known name in the post press print finishing market, has been researching ways to expand their product line. “Working with CG Machinery is the solution we have been looking for” says Hank Brandtjen, President of Kluge. CG Machinery represents SBL’s line of half sheet and 40” die cutting, embossing and foil stamping equipment, SBL’s 20” and 40” in-line folding and gluing equipment and Datien paper cutting machines. Kenny Lee, President of CG Machinery, is equally pleased with the new alliance. “The opportunity to associate ourselves with such a well known company as Kluge is what our
Horizon Celebrates Factory Opening BIWAKO, SIGA, JAPAN—Standard Finishing Systems joined Horizon International for the ceremonial grand opening of Horizon’s newly expanded post-press equipment factory here. This state-of-the-art facility is now 25 percent larger and has been further modernized with more than US$20 million in new machine tool, injection molding, parts logistics and assembly technology that will permit faster and more flexible production. Manufacturing capacity is expected to increase by nearly 30 percent when the Biwako factory reaches full-scale operation. Stitching Addition Expands Range DENVILLE, NJ—RedmondBCMS provides a diverse range of services—from business communications and marketing support, to printing, mailing and distribution. Now, RedmondBCMS is also poised
GEORGETOWN, SC—An International Paper employee was killed January 17 when the debarking machine he was working on pinned and crushed him. James "Larry" Merritt, 52, a maintenance worker at the IP Sampit Lumber Mill who had been with the company for two years, died from head injuries. While electricity to the machine was shut off, the pneumatic cylinder Merritt was working on lowered and trapped him. Georgetown County Coroner Kenny Johnson told the Associated Press that Merritt died from head injuries and likely expired within seconds. The accident is being investigated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Merritt left behind a wife and
STAMFORD, CT—Only weeks after announcing that 3,000 jobs would be eliminated from its domestic work force, International Paper reported that it would be letting another 655 employees go in a move that coincides with the plan to indefinitely shut down production capacity of 670,000 tons within its containerboard and coated papers businesses. Three paper machines at its Savannah, GA, mill and one at its Hudson River mill in Corinth, NY, will be shut down indefinitely. The shutdowns will result in reductions of approximately 610,000 tons of the company's U.S. containerboard capacity (12 percent) and 60,000 tons of its coated freesheet capacity (7.5 percent). "These are difficult
PURCHASE, NY—International Paper has announced that three mills will be closed and another scaled back to help fulfill plans to reduce production capacity by 1.2 million tons annually in the uncoated paper, market pulp, unbleached Kraft paper and containerboard businesses. Approximately 2,500 employees at the mills and related forestry operations will be impacted by the shutdowns. The affected facilities include mills in Mobile and Courtland, AL; Lock Haven, PA; and Camden, AR. "International Paper's merger and acquisition activities over the past five years have given us the flexibility and low cost capacity that allows us to realign production more efficiently and reduce
