Verso Corp., Memphis, Tenn., USA, this week announced plans to temporarily idle the No. 3 paper machine at its Androscoggin Mill in Jay, Maine, reducing annual coated paper production capacity by approximately 200,000 tons. Verso intends to implement this capacity reduction beginning in the first quarter of 2017. 

The mill also will idle a digester and recovery boiler that support the No. 3 paper machine. Most products currently produced on the No. 3 paper machine will be transitioned to other machines in Verso's highly flexible manufacturing system with no expected disruption to customer orders.

 

 

"It's critical to Verso's long-term success that we balance the supply of our products with our customers' demand for them, and we currently have more coated paper capacity in our mill system than we can fill," said Michael A. Weinhold, Verso SVP for sales, marketing, and product development. "Verso made the decision to temporarily idle the No. 3 paper machine and transition the machine's production to lower-cost machines in our manufacturing system to help us stay ahead of the curve and move the entire company toward sustained profitability. At the same time, we are positioning the mill for future success by optimizing equipment, enhancing process efficiency, and expanding production for the growing specialty papers market."   

The idling of the No. 3 paper machine will result in the layoff of about 190 employees at the Androscoggin Mill. Verso anticipates that if the machine is not restarted, the capacity reduction will result in the elimination of those jobs.

   

"Challenging market conditions have made these types of actions far too frequent in recent years, and they are never easy," Weinhold said. "They are especially difficult for the employees and their families who are directly affected. Verso is committed to treating all of our impacted employees with fairness, dignity, and respect and to communicating openly and honestly with each individual about how this decision will affect him or her. Our Human Resources team will begin meeting with our affected employees immediately.

"We're in business to help make our customers successful, and Verso remains steadfastly committed to those who currently purchase coated paper products made on the No. 3 paper machine at the Androscoggin Mill," Weinhold said. "Our sales team will begin contacting customers immediately to determine how to make this transition as seamless as possible."

Verso will continue to evaluate market conditions to determine if and when the No. 3 paper machine at the Androscoggin Mill will be restarted.