Office products company ACCO Brands said Wednesday it will expand its Booneville, Miss., manufacturing and distribution facility, creating an additional 330 jobs and enabling the company to more efficiently manufacture certain products.
Two manufacturing facilities in Illinois and Mexico will close, and some manufacturing from these facilities will be relocated to Booneville.
ACCO said that when the expansion is completed in 2008, the facility will become a key distribution center in the southeast, and the company's principal manufacturing site in North America for presentation boards sold under the Quartet(R) brand. The company will also manufacture vinyl binders at the site.
"This is a significant expansion of a strategically important manufacturing and distribution facility," said Dennis L. Chandler, president and chief operating officer of ACCO Brands' Office Products Group. "We will create a state-of-the-art distribution center and a much-needed presence for distribution in the southeast region of the country. In addition, we'll benefit from a lower-cost operation, reduced shipping costs and greater proximity to our customers."
The $55 million project includes three new buildings totaling 570,000 square feet, and major renovations to existing buildings to improve productivity. Several buildings that no longer meet the company's needs will be demolished. When the project is complete, ACCO will occupy 748,000 square feet in total.
ACCO currently employs more than 500 people in Booneville. Following the expansion, the facility will employ about 850 people in distribution, manufacturing and customer service functions.