Jan 23, 2009. /Lesprom.com/. International Paper will be closing the Howell corrugated container plant resulting in the loss of 95 jobs, informed Lesprom Network according to the Livingston Daily. A letter from human resources to International Paper employees said job losses would occur between March 24 and April 6, however, there was no date given for the plant's closure. “The extraordinary decline in the automotive industry, combined with the addition of box plants in this region with our acquisition of Weyerhaeuser’s packaging business has left us with more capacity than our customers need,” Complex General Manager Matt Mataya said. “With the automotive slump, our Howell plant is disadvantaged by a loss of volume and because other area facilities are better positioned to service other key segments. Unfortunately that led to the decision to close this plant." The plant, which opened in 1967, produces 900 million square feet of corrugated packaging each year for automotive and industrial customers.