Jan. 12, 2009 - Kapstone Paper & Packaging Corp. will take market-related downtime on one of its three paper machines at the company's North Charleston, South Carolina mill this week and the week of Jan. 26 to account for a slowdown in demand, according to a local business journal.

The machine being temporarily idled produces linerboard.

About 100 employees will be impacted by the machine downtime, but Kapstone is not expecting to lay-off any workers, spokesman Larry Cobb said.

The workers have a choice of taking unpaid time off or vacation time.

“It’s in response to the global economic slowdown,” Cobb said.

Kapstone acquired the mill in July 2008 from MeadWestvaco for $485 million.

SOURCE: Charleston Business Journal