Port Angeles Paper Mill to Restart Operations by End of 2019

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The McKinley Paper Co. mill in Port Angeles will be reopened by end of the current year.

The dismantling of long-dormant equipment at the mill is underway, so as to enable $6.1 million worth of improvements. The plant is expected to reopen by 31^st December, 2019. The mill was shut down in the year 2017, which then had led to layoffs of nearly 150 employees.

The upgrades include installation of new pulper equipment for processing recycled cardboard into heavyweight bag-grades of paper and corrugated fluting for box liners. It must be noted that McKinley Paper Co. had obtained an industrial-remodel building permit from the city of Port Angeles in August this year. It has also received necessary environment permits including permit from the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA). The construction works are in progress, said the company press release.

McKinley had hired several employees during the hiring event held in July this year, filling several key positions. To fill additional vacancies, it plans to take applications Oct. 2 at a job fair sponsored by WorkSource and the chamber at the Vern Burton Community Center, 308 E. Fourth St., in Port Angeles. Currently, there are openings for experienced paper machine operators, electrical-instrumentation technicians and multicraft mechanics, said Peter Johnson, Human Resources Manager, McKinley.