Verso Paper Corp. Announces Permanent Shutdown Of Three Paper Machines

Verso Paper Corp. announced that it will permanently reduce its annual production capacity by 193,000 tons. This will be accomplished by the permanent shutdown of the No. 2 coated groundwood paper machine at its mill in Bucksport, Maine, effective October 23 and two supercalendered (SC) paper machines at its mill in Sartell, Minnesota, effective December 14. The shutdown of the No. 2 paper machine at the Bucksport Mill will reduce Verso’s annual coated groundwood capacity by 90,000 tons or approximately 10%. The Bucksport Mill’s workforce will be reduced by approximately 125 employees.The shutdown of the No. 1 and No. 2 paper machines at the Sartell Mill will eliminate approximately 103,000 tons annually of SCA and SCB paper capacity. The Sartell Mill’s workforce will be reduced by approximately 175 employees.