The Appleton Coated paper mill, Combined Locks, Wis., USA, which shutdown in September 2017, restarted earlier this week and will operate for three months, hiring 50 former employees to run at least one paper machine during that period. Reportedly, the mill has at least one large order for kraft packaging paper. 

In September, some 650 employees were laid off when the mill shut down. A judge decided the mill would go into receivership while Industrial Assets marketed the operation, with a 90-day window for potential buyers to purchase the mill.

The 50 recalled workers will join 38 employees who had been previously retained for mill maintenance, for a total of 88, all hourly union workers. The number of salaried non-union employees that will be part of the 90-day run was not disclosed.

PM 6 is said to be the machine that will be restarted, though more than one machine could be put back into operation. PM 6 produces packaging grades, including corrugating medium, bag, lightweight food service, and other grades including coated and uncoated fine papers.