AWPPW: Ponderay Newsprint Labor Dispute Alert

A hearing ended Monday after nearly seven hours of discussion, to decide the future of Appleton Coated and its more than 600 workers. It looks like the future could be a little bit brighter for those workers. During Monday's hearing the judge was supposed to either approve of the $21 million purchase agreement or deny the sale. However, some changes were made to those original purchase agreements after a different offer came through from the employee union and a lending firm. "We will work to do our very best to provide an operating budget to each of the steelworkers and the receiver. We will work very hard. That's not a guarantee, but if it's not done by the end of the day tomorrow it will be done the following day," explained Mark Friedlander, Industrial Assets attorney. Now, Industrial Assets says it will pay $20 million , with more money to provide an operating budget to keep the plant open for 45 days. Over those 45 days Appleton Coated will run with only 200 employees to fulfill current orders. The mill typically employs more than 600 people. Click Read More below for more of the story.

Wednesday January 20, 2021, the last roll of paper was produced on SCA’s paper machine 5 at Ortviken paper mill in Sundsvall. PM5 produced uncoated publication paper for newpapers, magazines and commercial print and had a capacity of 255,000 tonnes per annum. The paper machine started production in the year 1985. PM5 will now be dismantled in order to make room for the company Renewcell and its recycling of textile fibre, which is expected to come on stream on the Ortviken site in 2022. As previously announced, the remaining two paper machines at the Ortviken paper mill will stop production during the first quarter of 2021, as SCA ceases to produce publication paper.

When your employees and customers understand the fundamentals of paper, they better understand the value your company provides. After a successful event last September, NPTA Paper School returns this fall in Chicago, IL. This half-day program teaches the most important topics in paper and provides each attendee with a strong foundation of knowledge to build on. The six classroom sections are taught by paper industry leading experts from top paper mills. Attendees will receive access to the PRINT17 tradeshow floor and take a guided tour of the most advanced printing equipment in the world.