"Overnight this gives us a major presence for all of our business segments in the Southeast, Northeast, Midwest, and soon the Southwest, with a planned new facility in Dallas, giving us full a national footprint. That is big for everyone at Atlantic. It makes us national in every way," said Rusty Carter, Atlantic President.
The acquired IP facilities convert (sheet and rewind) bleached paperboard produced primarily at IP mills in Riegelwood, N.C., Augusta, G.A., and Texarkana, T.X. The sheeting plants serve as finishing departments and distribution centers for national product coverage.
Greg Gibson, Vice President and general manager of coated paperboard for International Paper said, "Atlantic Packaging is a leading paperboard converter with a great reputation for quality and service. This transaction offers considerable marketplace advantages for both companies.
"International Paper gains significant supply chain flexibility to support our Carolina® and Everest® brands and job opportunities for our employees in three facilities."
After the purchase, Atlantic will employ over 900 people and will be the largest converter of bleached paperboard in North America.
Atlantic has 12 branch locations across the Southeast U.S., Dominican Republic and Central America and employs 750 people. The Wilmington, N.C. based company is a nationwide packaging products and equipment supplier to consumer products manufacturers, with paper converting facilities (similar to those acquired from IP) in several current locations.
