An article published in the Lima News of Lima, Ohio, USA, this past week profiled the local International Paper (IP) facility in Kenton. IP, based in Memphis, Tenn., is a global company that makes packaging for all sorts of items, but in Kenton, it makes fiber-based hot and cold cups, food buckets, containers, plates and lids.

 

The Kenton facility recently added 250,000 square feet. The growth is possible because there’s a growing demand for renewable products such as the company’s paper cups, said David Mulligan, the plant manager.

"For the most part, people want to get away from Styrofoam cups. People want something renewable," he said.

Another thing that has shown success for the company is its reliability and size.

"Big companies are looking for a company that can provide a reliable supply chain," Mulligan said, and International Paper can do that. It has an expertise in manufacturing, as it’s been doing it for a long time.

"We can be a good partner for companies," he said. "(We provide) products at a low cost, on time and with good quality."

According to Lima News, The Kenton facility has 700 employees who keep the plant running 24 hours a day and who make plastic lids, print graphics on paper cups, make the cups, and package and ship them out. It makes products for Wendy’s, McDonald’s, Dairy Queen, Starbucks and more.

 

 

Photo: Workers pack boxes of finished paper cups at IP Kenton. 

 

The company is constantly hiring according to the newspaper, and pay ranges from $11 an hour for entry level up to about $20 an hour, Mulligan said.

Curt Morris, of Kenton, started at the plant about a month ago and packs cups in boxes to be shipped out. He likes the job, though it’s faster paced than anything he’s done before. He stays busy, and he likes the people who work there, he said.

Tina Dyer has worked at the plant for 27 years. She started as a packer and is now a production supervisor. "It’s a good place to work," she said. "I like the people. They’re just easy going, fun-loving people. We all get along really well."

That camaraderie between employees is important, as the company is focused on safety, quality, teamwork and continual improvement, Mulligan said. "How we work together as a team is what makes us successful," he pointed out. "Our performance is a direct result of how well our folks work together."

 

 

Photo: IP Kenton's Plant Manager David Mulligan 

 

The company looks for people to fit into its teamwork philosophy. For entry-level jobs, applicants need a high school diploma or equivalent. Mulligan also likes them to have good people skills and a "mindset around hard work and mechanical aptitude."

The plant also supports "a lot of local things other than just employment" in Kenton, Mulligan added. The company donates to causes such as the United Way, Relay For Life and other local groups.

"We’re here to support what we have outside of here," Mulligan said. "The community is where our folks come from."