ND Paper Announces Major Restructuring of Rumford Paper Mill Operations

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): ND Paper announced its decision to reconfigure the operations at its Rumford, Maine paper mill. The move, in response to market conditions, will boost production of packaging papers.

According to company press release, the mill currently operates three paper production lines. It mainly produces bleached grades that primarily serve the printing and writing markets. However, it noted that there has been a drastic decline in demand for this product mix. For instance, it expects nearly 23.5% decline in the demand for coated woodfree paper. Also, the demand for coated mechanical papers is likely to witness over 30% decline over the previous year.

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ND Paper to Expand Pulp and Paper Production Capacity

ND Paper will commission an unbleached recycled pulp (URP) line. It will convert a paper machine into kraft linerboard products. In addition, a paper machine will be expanded to include unbleached recycled bag and converting papers. Also, it will permanently curtail its mechanical pulping operations at the mill, as part of the reconfiguration plan. The above transitions are expected to be completed before end-2020.

Ken Liu, Group Deputy Chairman & Chief Executive Officer noted that the Rumford mill repurposing will position it into bigger and more stable packaging paper markets.