Sappi Closing Michigan Paper Machine

Sappi Fine Paper North America announced that it will shut down one of its paper machines at the Muskegon, Mich., mill. The machine is the highest cost and oldest printing and writing paper machine in North America.

The company also plans to suspend operation of the Muskegon pulp mill indefinitely and will cease operations by this September. Another paper machine at Muskegon will continue to operate and produce a variety of coated free sheet papers to meet changing customer needs.

Gavin Travers, managing director of Sappi's Muskegon Mill said, "The #4 paper machine, originally built in 1924, is simply not able to compete with more modern, cost efficient machines in the U.S. and other countries. Without the #4 paper machine, we have no present need to run the pulp mill, although we are mothballing the asset to preserve our options in the future. These decisions were difficult, and we know they will affect not only our employees, but the surrounding community."