Thursday, June 22, 2017 11:15 am

SWEDEN (News release) -- In February of this year, Stora Enso announced that it planned to permanently shut down paper machine 8 at its Kvarnsveden Mill in Sweden due to structural weakening of magazine paper demand in Europe.

Co-determination negotiations with employees at the mill are still ongoing, but PM8 was permanently shut down this week. The number of people affected by the reorganization of the mill and shutdown will be determined during third quarter of 2017.

PM8 had an annual capacity of 100,000 tonnes of super-calendered uncoated magazine paper (SC). The closure of PM8 at Kvarnsveden Mill will not impact Stora Enso's SC paper offering. In Europe, Stora Enso continues to produce SC paper at Kvarnsveden Mill PM12 as well at Maxau Mill in Germany and Langerbrugge Mill in Belgium. The group also serves its SC customers from Dawang Mill in China.

Production at Kvarnsveden Mill will continue on two lines, PM10 for improved newsprint paper and PM12 for SC papers.

Stora Enso said it will make every effort in co-operation with the local community to help the affected personnel find new employment opportunities, and mitigate the impact of the reorganisation and PM8 closure through individual solutions. All job openings in other Stora Enso units will be available to those affected.

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