KapStone's Longview Mill Restarts Its #11 Paper Machine

NORTHBROOK, Ill., Sept. 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation (NYSE: KS) ("KapStone") is announcing today that its Longview, Wash. mill has restarted its #11 paper machine in accordance with a contingency plan to operate the mill in the event of a strike.

This is the second of the mill's five paper machines to be brought back online following a work stoppage initiated on Aug. 27, 2015, by the AWPPW union, Local 153. The first machine to resume operations was paper machine #10, the mill's largest machine. #10 produces containerboard primarily for KapStone's corrugated box plants in the Pacific Northwest region. It was restarted on Monday, Aug. 31 after a maintenance outage that followed the work stoppage.

Paper machine #11, KapStone's most flexible machine, produces a broad range of kraft paper products for external customers both in the U.S. and abroad. A number of the company's specialty products are produced on this machine, including its unique line of extensible kraft papers.

The mill began shipping products to customers according to its contingency plan shortly after paper machine #10 was brought back online. It continues to ramp up production, now with both its #10 and #11 machines.

President of the Kraft Paper Division, Randy Nebel, said that employee teams from across the country are working together to ensure a smooth return to full production according to the company's contingency plan. "We continue to live up to our commitment to provide customers with a broad range of products and services, despite the strike," he said.  

KapStone operates four paper mills throughout the U.S. with a total of eleven paper machines. It is temporarily diverting some of the product it normally produces in Longview to its sister mills.

About the Company

Headquartered in Northbrook, IL, KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation is the fifth largest producer of containerboard and corrugated packaging products and is the largest kraft paper producer in the United States. The Company has four paper mills, 21 converting plants and 65 distribution centers.  The business has approximately 6,200 employees.

For additional company information visit: www.kapstonepaper.com

SOURCE KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation