Quebecor to shut two US plants

Quebecor World is to close two US printing plants costing 735 jobs in its effort to streamline operations.

The Canadian print giant is shutting a book-manufacturing plant in Kingsport, Tennessee and a magazine printer in Brookfield, Wisconsin.

"Their work is going to different facilities in the network," said a Quebecor spokesman. "Some of the work will go to facilities in Latin America as well as in the US."

The closures are expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2006 and will cost Quebecor restructuring charges of approximately 17.1m ($30m).

The move comes as part of a series of radical restructures at Quebecor World "to meet the changing needs of the publishing industry".

Last month, it announced that it would be closing its Imprimerie Alsacienne Didier-Quebecor plant in Strasbourg, France, costing around 185 jobs.

Quebecor World in Corby will soon be receiving some of the firm's 140m European spend with the installation of two new KBA Compacta 818 72pp presses.