Banta To Sell CT DM Printing Plant
Banta Corp. plans to sell its Danbury, CT direct marketing print plant and close several other facilities.
The Connecticut plant employs approximately 200 employees. According to a statement by the Menasha, WI-based company, the plant continues to have strong customer support, but its general print segment focus doesn’t align with Banta’s strategy to focus more on personalized direct marketing initiatives.
Banta’s Eden Prairie, MN book printing plant will close by the end of 2006, affecting up to 72 employees.. The Spanish Fork, UT literature management and fulfillment facility will also close by year-end, affecting up to 17 employees.
In addition, three book fulfillment facilities will be closed and consolidated into a new and larger fulfillment center. Services provided at Banta’s Appleton, WI; Menasha, WI; and Kaukauna, WI facilities will be moved to a single, yet-to-be-determined location nearby over the next six to 12 months. Combined, the three facilities employ approximately 400; the company expects to layoff 75 employees, and relocate the remainder to the new facility.
The changes are expected to save the company $35 annually in 2008, and $27 million in 2007.
An additional reduction of up to 150 employees has already begun across the corporation to eliminate redundancies in management and administrative positions due to the recent reorganization of the company’s print sector from five divisions to two. In total, 500 positions will be affected as part of the print division consolidation, facility closings and sale of the Danbury plant.
