NORCROSS, Ga. (AP) — RockTenn Co. will close three corrugated container plants that it picked up in its acquisition of Smurfit-Stone, the packaging manufacturer said Thursday, as it eliminates redundant operations to cut costs
The plants in Birmingham, Ala., Jonesboro, Ark., and Santa Fe Springs, Calif., are slated to be closed in the fourth quarter.
"We plan to take many actions in the next year to maximize the efficiency of our manufacturing processes as well as to reduce costs and eliminate redundancies throughout our operations as we move forward to achieve the operating synergy that we anticipate from the Smurfit-Stone acquisition," said Jim Rubright, RockTenn's chairman and CEO.
The company said that existing business at the plants will be transitioned to nearby RockTenn facilities. It did not say how many employees work at the plants or how many stand to lose their job when the plants close.
The company did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Shares slipped 8 cents to $73.36 in afternoon trading.