Smurfit-Stone Opens New Plant in Chicagoland

Smurfit-Stone is celebrating the opening of its new Chicago-area container plant in New Lenox, IL. Located in the nation's second largest packaging market, the New Lenox plant is one of the most modern corrugated container manufacturing facilities in the industry, according to the company. The plant will employ approximately 145 people and serve companies in the pizza, oil and lubricants, laundry detergent and household goods, food products, cooking oils and health care products industries.

"Our investment in New Lenox represents Smurfit-Stone's long-standing commitment to the Chicagoland market area,” said Smurfit-Stone Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Patrick J. Moore. “Smurfit-Stone has had strong ties to Chicago for many years and our new world-class facility here helps to further position us as a leading integrated packaging company.”

The New Lenox facility is a high-volume and high-efficiency operation that can produce as much as 2.4 billion square feet of corrugated board annually, says Smurfit-Stone. The design, development and manufacture of the products made in New Lenox are supported by Smurfit-Stone Image Pac, the company's display and graphics business unit.

"By combining our design expertise with our manufacturing network, Smurfit-Stone Image Pac creates one of the industry's largest display and graphics manufacturing and distribution systems,” said Smurfit-Stone President and Chief Operating Officer Steve Klinger. “New Lenox and Smurfit-Stone Image Pac are teaming up on a number of products and services for our customers, including our pizza program."

Smurfit-Stone says the New Lenox plant was designed to be a flexible and efficient facility. The plant is said to be equipped with a 110-inch BHS corrugator, a Mitsubishi Evol flexo folder gluer, two Martin flexo folder gluers, three Martin rotary die cutters and is a 100 percent conveyored operation.

In addition to its high-production capacity, the manufacturing equipment is highly efficient as well, according to the company. The process boiler is a high-efficiency 500 HP unit with a low NOX burner, and the plant itself is illuminated by high-efficiency fluorescent lighting throughout. Other environmentally friendly features include a zero-discharge scrap handling system.

To celebrate the New Lenox plant opening and to support its commitment to sustainability, the environment and mitigating climate change, Smurfit-Stone announced the donation of 1,000 seedlings to the Village of New Lenox. Smurfit-Stone's customers and employees, as well as New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann, joined in the grand opening celebration.

Source: Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation