Appvion to Consolidate Carbonless Paper Manufacturing Operations

Appvion Inc., Appleton, Wis., USA,  this week announced plans to consolidate the majority of the carbonless paper coating and rewinding operations currently performed at its plant in Appleton, to its integrated pulp and paper mill in Roaring Spring, Pa., and relocate the Appleton Plant's sheeting operations to an Appvion-operated facility near the mill. The company expects the transition will begin in January and be completed in the third quarter of 2018.

Consolidating Appvion's carbonless paper manufacturing, rewinding, and sheeting to the Roaring Spring area, where Appvion already produces this product, will help position the company for long-term success by increasing the efficiencies of its manufacturing and logistics operations. 

"Our consolidation plan is an important operational improvement initiative designed to enhance Appvion's competitive position in the carbonless paper market," said Kevin Gilligan, Appvion's CEO. "This move will allow Appvion to most effectively serve current and future demand for carbonless products and maintain our commitment to a market that we have been proud to serve since our company helped introduce this product 63 years ago."

The consolidation plan will result in the shutdown of three under-utilized coaters and related rewinding and sheeting equipment at the Appleton Plant and the elimination of approximately 200 hourly and salaried jobs at that facility. Approximately 300 hourly and salaried plant employees will be retained at the Appleton Plant to continue producing the company's thermal paper products and some carbonless and specialty coated grades. Employment at Roaring Spring Mill and at Appvion's thermal paper coating plant in West Carrollton, Ohio, will be unaffected by the plan.

Gilligan added that "we greatly appreciate the role the affected employees at the Appleton Plant have played in serving customers over the years and we are committed to helping them through this transition."

Implementation of the plan is pending discussions with representatives of the Appleton Plant's Local 2-0469 of the United Steelworkers Union regarding the reasons for and effects of the company's consolidation plan.