MeadWestvaco bringing R&D center,
200 jobs to Centennial Campus

MeadWestvaco, the global packaging company with products such as AT-A-GLANCE, Five-Star and Cambridge, will open a new packaging innovation center on Centennial Campus, company officials announced Feb. 15. The center will bring 200 additional jobs to the campus and an investment of $14 million over the next four years.

“As an industry leader in packaging research and innovation, MeadWestvaco will bring a wealth of partnership opportunities to NC State,” said Chancellor James L. Oblinger. “Their commitment to creating new ideas and products, and our faculty and student expertise in natural resources, textiles, design and engineering, will only serve to foster a collaborative environment that produces innovative solutions.”

The company has had a long, historic partnership with NC State’s College of Natural Resources. MeadWestvaco and President James Buzzard have been major supporters of the university’s wood and paper science and forestry and environmental resources programs, and Buzzard was named the college’s distinguished alumnus in 2003. In 2005, the company became a member of the Nonwovens Cooperative Research Center, a university research unit located in the College of Textiles. In addition, MeadWestvaco will begin new collaborations with the university’s College of Design and College of Engineering.

“The establishment of our new Packaging Innovation Center clearly represents MeadWestvaco’s emphasis on innovation and technology and is a key element in our company’s strategy to be the leader in global packaging,” said company Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John A. Luke Jr. “The access to state-of-the-art technology and quality research partnerships through NC State and its Centennial Campus is unparalleled. We look forward to bringing value to the Raleigh community, and are confident this move will result in long-term success for our customers and our company.”

Posted Feb. 24, 2006

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