Appleton Announces Significant Expansion Program for its Thermal Production Capacity

APPLETON, Wis., Jan. 26 /PRNewswire/ — Appleton announced today plans for an expansion of the company’s thermal paper production capacity at its mill in West Carrollton, Ohio. The expansion program will include the installation of a state-of-the-art coater to produce thermal paper and construction of related facilities as well as enhancements to the mill’s No. 92 paper machine. The company will invest approximately $100 million in the expansion program which is scheduled for completion in mid-2008 and will add up to 35 new jobs to the mill’s 400-person workforce.


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“We are pleased to make a major investment in this growing segment of our paper business,” said Mark Richards, Appleton’s chief executive officer. “This investment also shows our commitment to reinvest in our core business when we have attractive opportunities to do so.”


Long-term commitment to market leadership


Walter Schonfeld, president of Appleton’s technical papers division, said the state-of-the-art coater will strengthen the company’s market leadership position. “The expansion will improve our capability to meet customer needs for enhanced product design and quality as well as increase capacity to satisfy projected demand for thermal products from our domestic and international customers,” said Schonfeld. “This significant expansion demonstrates our long-term commitment to serving our customers worldwide.”


Technology and innovation leadership


Appleton helped introduce direct thermal technology in the 1960s and continues to be the market leader for thermal media. Appleton’s thermal products are routinely used for: point-of-sale (POS) receipts and coupons; label products for shipping, warehousing, medical and clean-room applications; tag and ticket products for airline and baggage applications, event and transportation tickets; and lottery and gaming applications.


About Appleton


Appleton creates product solutions through development and use of coating formulations and applications, encapsulation technology and secure and specialized print services. The Company produces carbonless, thermal, security and performance packaging products. Appleton is headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin, and has manufacturing operations in Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and the United Kingdom, employs approximately 3,200 people and is 100 percent employee owned. For more information visit http://www.appletonideas.com/ .