International Paper closes production line at its Pensacola Mill eliminating100 jobs
International Paper announced Wednesday that it was permanently closing one of its production lines at its Pensacola Mill in Cantonment.
The company said it was closing its No. 4 machine in Pensacola that produces pulp as part of "strategic actions" the company was taking that will result in closing two other production lines in its U.S. plants.
The decision will impact 100 positions in Pensacola, according to company spokesperson Amy Simpson.
The Pensacola Mill currently has 550 employees.
"Our goal is to minimize involuntary job reductions by utilizing current vacancies, retirements and normal attrition," Simpson said.
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Along with the closure of the production line in Pensacola, the company announced it was closing its containerboard mill in Orange, Texas, and a pulp production line in Riegelwood, North Carolina.
"Decisions like these are extremely difficult, because of the impact on our employees, their families and the communities in which we operate," International Paper CEO Mark Sutton said in a press release. "We are grateful to our employees in Orange, Riegelwood and Pensacola for their significant contributions to the company over the years. We are committed to providing severance benefits, outplacement assistance and more to help employees during this time."
Across the company, 900 positions will be affected by the decisions.
"We believe strongly in the attractive, long-term fundamentals of our businesses and these actions further strengthen our competitive platform," Sutton said. "Our optimized mill system, with its broad capabilities, gives us the flexibility to meet our customers' needs today and in the future."
The mill in Cantonment has operated since 1941 and was purchased by International Paper in 2000.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: International Paper closes line at Pensacola Mill, losing 100 jobs
