Smurfit-Stone Container closing Conn. plant, expanding Mass. facility

Smurfit-Stone Container closing Conn. plant

ST. LOUIS — Smurfit-Stone Container Corp., a major U.S. cardboard box-parts maker operating under bankruptcy court protection, said Friday it is expanding its Mansfield, Mass., plant and closing its Portland, Conn., facility.

Work at Mansfield includes both upgrading equipment and expanding capacity and is set for completion in the first quarter of next year, a company spokesman said.

The Portland plant, which employs 93 people, will close next month. Some of those employees may keep working for Smurfit-Stone at other facilities, the spokesman said.