Quad/Graphics to Close Arkansas Facility

Printer Quad/Graphics announced plans to cease production at its Jonesboro, AR facility in the fourth quarter of this year as it continues to consolidate work onto its most efficient and competitive manufacturing platforms.

The 600,000-sq.-ft. plant, which prints catalogs and magazines, employs about 600 workers.

Quad/Graphics spokesperson Claire Ho says there isn’t a firm closing date for the facility.

“We will shut down operations in phases based on our ability to transition work to other facilities in our network,” Ho said. “It is fluid based on business needs.”

Dave Goldschmidt, senior vice president at Midland Paper, said the Jonesboro facility was formerly used by Ringier America, World Color Press, Quebecor, and now Quad/Graphics.

“It was known as a catalog printing facility, was higher volume and had a very good reputation with a very experienced customer service staff,” Goldschmidt says. “Bottom line is, with the shrinking catalog and magazine market, there is still too much capacity in the printing industry and supply and demand needs to be balanced.”

Quad/Graphics has more than 50 print production facilities worldwide.