Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) plans to permanently close its corrugated converting plant in Middletown, Ohio, by the end of 2026, affecting 91 employees.
In an October 1 notice filed under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, PCA said the decision is part of a consolidation of work into larger and more efficient operations, including a recently opened plant in Ohio.
PCA expects to retain its existing workforce through the 60-day WARN notification period. Most employees are expected to be released from duty on December 1, while a limited number may remain beyond that date to support the shutdown. The facility is expected to be vacant by the end of December.
Hourly production and maintenance employees at the Middletown plant are represented by United Steelworkers Local 1676. PCA said it will work with state and local officials to provide assistance to affected employees and will also help workers interested in transferring to other PCA locations where positions are available.
The consolidation follows the startup of PCA’s new converting plant in Newark, Ohio, which began operations in July. The approximately 550,000-square-foot facility was developed to expand the company’s corrugated packaging capacity in the region and improve network efficiency.
Packaging Corporation of America is a major North American producer of containerboard and corrugated packaging products. Its Packaging segment includes nine containerboard mills and more than 90 converting facilities. PCA also operates its white paper business under the Boise Paper brand.
