Graphic Packaging Plans to End Production at Two Plants


Marietta, Georgia, USA, 23 April 2008 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Graphic Packaging International, Inc., a subsidiary of Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE: GPK), today announced that it plans to discontinue folding carton manufacturing at its operations in Middletown, Ohio, by the end of the third quarter of 2008. The company also announced today that it plans to cease production at its paper lamination plant in Elk Grove Village, Illinois.

Both announcements are part of Graphic Packaging's overall re-alignment and consolidation of its operations to optimize its manufacturing footprint and to achieve the USD 90 million in synergies identified as an outcome of the combination of Graphic Packaging and Altivity Packaging. As a high quality packaging leader committed to these markets, the company is making these changes to ensure that its customers are reliably supported from a network of well-capitalized, low-cost facilities to meet their needs.

The Middletown folding carton facility will continue to operate and support customers while its business is transitioned to other company facilities in the United States. The company is notifying its Middletown employees and unions of the production phase-out, and will provide appropriate assistance to the 133 salaried and hourly employees affected by the transition.

Graphic Packaging will continue to operate its boxboard mill, also located at the Middletown site, to produce coated-recycled paperboard for the consumer packaging industry. There are no changes planned in the Middletown mill production or employment levels.

The Elk Grove Village laminations plant will support customers while production is transitioned to other company locations in the United States over the next several months. Employees and union representatives are being notified of the operating change by the company, which will provide the appropriate assistance to the 20 affected salaried and hourly employees working at this facility.

The company will continue to operate its two folding carton plants at the Elk Grove Village location.

Graphic Packaging International, Inc., a subsidiary of Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE: GPK), headquartered in Marietta, Georgia, is a leading provider of paperboard packaging solutions for a wide variety of products to food, beverage, and other consumer products companies. The company is one of the largest producers of folding cartons and holds a leading market position in coated-recycled boxboard and specialty bag packaging. Additional information about Graphic Packaging, its business, and its products is available at www.graphicpkg.com.

Source: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.