Paper Excellence plans to restart Number 11 Paper Machine at Catalyst Powell River, a Paper Excellence company, on or around May 1, 2021. The restart reflects the recent recovery in global paper markets and Paper Excellence’s long-term commitment to the Powell River facility.
The machine was curtailed in the spring of 2020 after an external malware attack and the COVID-19 pandemic simultaneously impacted the mill’s paper production as well as global paper demand. A total of 200 jobs will return with the startup of the paper machine.
“This is long awaited good news for Powell River,” said Patrick Corriveau, Vice President of Paper and Packaging at Paper Excellence. “We deeply appreciate the patience shown by our employees. We know the extended curtailment had a significant impact on them, their families, our business partners, and the greater community.”
Paper Excellence continues to be hopeful that improved global paper markets will enable it to restart the mill’s second paper machine later in 2021. Paper Excellence’s Powell River mill manufactures paper products. In 2019, the mill used 93% renewable energy and has reduced its carbon emissions by 79% since 1990.
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