<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000950144-03-002218
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>2
<PERIOD>20030221
<ITEMS>7
<ITEMS>9
<FILING-DATE>20030221
<FILER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CARAUSTAR INDUSTRIES INC
<CIK>0000825692
<ASSIGNED-SIC>2631
<IRS-NUMBER>581388387
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>NC
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>8-K
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-20646
<FILM-NUMBER>03575136
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>3100 JOE JERKINS BLVD
<CITY>AUSTELL
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30106
<PHONE>7709483101
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>P O BOX 115
<CITY>AUSTELL
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30168
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</FILER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>g80842e8vk.htm
<DESCRIPTION>CARAUSTAR INDUSTRIES, INC.
<TEXT>
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<TITLE>Caraustar Industries, Inc.</TITLE>
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<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<P align="center"><FONT size="2">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>
Washington, DC 20549</FONT>

<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>FORM 8-K</B></FONT>

<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>CURRENT REPORT</B></FONT>

<P align="center"><FONT size="2">Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</FONT>

<P align="center"><FONT size="2">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February&nbsp;21, 2003</FONT>

<P align="center"><FONT size="2">CARAUSTAR INDUSTRIES, INC.</FONT>
<div align="center"><HR size="1" noshade></div>
<div align="center"><FONT size="2">(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
</FONT></div>

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    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">North Carolina</FONT></TD>
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0-20646
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    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">58-1388387</FONT></TD>
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of Incorporation)</FONT></TD>
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(Commission File Number)
</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT size="2">(I.R.S. Employer<BR>
Identification No.)</FONT></TD>
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<P align="center"><FONT size="2">3100 Joe Jerkins Boulevard<BR>
Austell, Georgia 30106-3227</FONT>
<div align="center"><HR size="1" noshade></div>
<div align="center"><FONT size="2">(Address of Principal Executive Offices)<BR>
(Zip Code)</FONT></div>

<P align="center"><FONT size="2">(770)&nbsp;948-3101</FONT>
<div align="center"><HR size="1" noshade></div>
<div align="center"><FONT size="2">(Registrant&#146;s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
</FONT></div>

<P align="center"><FONT size="2">Not Applicable</FONT>
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<div align="center"><FONT size="2">(Former name or address, if changed from last report)
</FONT></div>

<P align="center"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT>
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<A name="toc"><DIV align="CENTER" style="page-break-before:always"><U><B>TABLE OF CONTENTS</B></U></DIV></A>

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<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#000">SIGNATURES</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="g80842exv99w1.txt">Press Release</A></TD></TR>
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<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<P align="left"><FONT size="2">Item&nbsp;9. Regulation&nbsp;FD Disclosure.</FONT>

<P><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On February&nbsp;21, 2003, Caraustar Industries, Inc. issued a press release
announcing the idling of the No.&nbsp;2 machine at the Rittman Paperboard facility.
The press release is attached as Exhibit&nbsp;99.1 and is incorporated herein by
reference.
</FONT>
<P align="left"><FONT size="2">Item&nbsp;7. Exhibits.</FONT>

<P><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Exhibit&nbsp;99.1 Press Release dated February&nbsp;21, 2003.
</FONT>
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<DIV align="left"><A NAME="000"></A></DIV>
<P align="center"><FONT size="2"><B>SIGNATURES</B></FONT>

<P><FONT size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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    <TD valign="top"><FONT size="2">Date: February&nbsp;21, 2003</FONT></TD>
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    <TD align="left" valign="top" colspan="3"><FONT size="2"><B>CARAUSTAR INDUSTRIES, INC</B></FONT></TD>
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By:
</FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">/s/ Thomas V. Brown</FONT></TD>
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    <TD><FONT size="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT size="2">Thomas V. Brown<br>
President and Chief Executive Officer</FONT></TD>
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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>g80842exv99w1.txt
<DESCRIPTION>PRESS RELEASE
<TEXT>
<PAGE>
                                                                   EXHIBIT 99.1


                                [CARAUSTAR LOGO]


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 21, 2003


                                               CONTACT: Ronald J. Domanico
                                                        Chief Financial Officer
                                                        (770) 948-3101


                            CARAUSTAR TO IDLE NO. 2
                           RITTMAN PAPERBOARD MACHINE


ATLANTA, Georgia - Caraustar Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq-NMS Symbol: CSAR) today
announced the indefinite idling of the No. 2 coated recycled paperboard machine
at its Rittman, Ohio facility. Recently completed upgrades in the Caraustar
mill system will facilitate transfer of all production from the No. 2 machine
to other Caraustar facilities, including Rittman Paperboard's No. 3 machine.

The Rittman Paperboard workforce will be reduced by 80, and Caraustar will take
a charge of $1.2 million, or approximately $0.03 per share, in the first
quarter 2003. The company expects to fully offset these costs throughout 2003
by savings associated with the transition. The No. 2 machine has an annual
capacity of approximately 80,000 tons.

Thomas V. Brown, president and chief executive officer of Caraustar, commented,
"This difficult, but necessary decision is consistent with our stated objective
to right-size our mill system and enables the Rittman mill to remain a
cost-effective and competitive supplier of quality products for its customers."

Caraustar, a recycled packaging company, is one of the largest and most
cost-effective manufacturers and converters of recycled paperboard and
packaging products in the United States. The company has developed its
leadership position in the industry through diversification and integration
from raw materials to finished products. Caraustar serves the four principal
recycled paperboard product markets: tubes, cores and cans; folding carton and
custom packaging; gypsum wallboard facing paper; and miscellaneous "other
specialty" and converted products.


                                    - more -


        PHONE 770 . 948 . 3101 . P. O. BOX 115 . AUSTELL, GA 30168-0115
              3100 JOE JERKINS BOULEVARD . AUSTELL, GA 30106-3227
<PAGE>
Caraustar Industries, Inc.
February 21, 2003
Page 2


This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements," within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, that represent the company's expectations,
anticipations or beliefs, including statements regarding the Company's
expectation that it will fully offset the costs of idling the Rittman No. 2
machine throughout 2003 by savings associated with the transition of production
to other facilities. For this purpose, any statements that are not statements
of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. These
statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially depending on a variety of important factors, including, but
not limited to, fluctuations in raw material prices and energy costs, downturns
in industrial production, housing and construction and the consumption of
durable and nondurable goods, the degree and nature of competition, demand for
the company's products, changes in government regulations, and the company's
ability to service its substantial indebtedness. Additional relevant risk
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are discussed in
the company's registration statements and reports filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, which are available from the company. These documents also
may be examined at public reference facilities maintained by the Securities and
Exchange Commission or, to the extent filed via EDGAR, accessed through the Web
Site of the Securities and Exchange Commission (http://www.sec.gov). The
company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking
statements and is not responsible for any changes made to this press release by
wire or Internet services.


                                      ###

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</SUBMISSION>
