Memphis, Tennessee-based International Paper, a producer of packaging, pulp, and other fiber-based products, has announced a strategic operational realignment that will impact multi-state operations.
The company will permanently close its Orange, Texas mill and permanently cease production on pulp machines in Riegelwood, North Carolina, and Pensacola, Florida to "further strengthen and optimize its manufacturing system to meet customers' needs."
The operational changes will impact 900 employees. The Texas mill closure will occur in stages and finish by the end of 2023, affecting 565 employees. The Florida mill has been idle since August, and its permanent shutdown will affect 100 employees. The North Carolina fluff mill will cease production by the end of this year, affecting 200 employees.
According to Chairman and CEO Mark Sutton, "Decisions like these are extremely difficult because of the impact on our employees, their families, and the communities in which we operate. 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.
We believe strongly in the attractive, long-term fundamentals of our businesses, and these actions further strengthen our competitive platform. Our optimized mill system, with its broad capabilities, gives us the flexibility to meet our customers' needs today and in the future."
Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?