Rock-Tenn Closes Carton Plant (MN loses 160 jobs)

[UpInArms]

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/business/9518398.htm

Rock-Tenn Co. said Friday it will close its St. Paul folding carton plant in December, erasing 160 jobs in one of the larger mass layoffs in Minnesota so far this year.

<snip>

The plant's future does have a cloud over it. Rock-Tenn generates electricity for its operations from inexpensive steam produced at Xcel Energy's High Bridge plant in St. Paul. But by May 2008, Xcel plans to convert the coal-fired plant to natural gas, cutting off Rock-Tenn's source of steam.

<snip>

State figures show that the 160 jobs lost will be one of the largest mass-layoffs this year, though it's considerably smaller than the 600-plus layoffs instituted by the Minneapolis school district. It is probably the single biggest factory closing in Minnesota this year.

Rock-Tenn, a publicly traded company, bought the paper mill and carton plant in 1997 from family-owned Waldorf Paper. The entire operation dates back to 1886.

...more at link...

[blueknight]

1. my friend,

works at rock-tenn in cincinnati and they are having grumblings about lay-offs there