The Finnish paper group UPM-Kymmene will shut down its plant in Steyrermühl in mid-2023. This is half a year earlier than planned, as announced on Wednesday. But that has no effect on the approximately 400 employees at the site, there is enough work, says managing director Ernst Spitzbart.
First, the sawmill and power generation remain operational. Second, the Heinzel Group, which operates its own factory nearby, bought UPM’s factory last year with suspensive effect. As reported, Steyrermühl is switching to packaging paper. Preparations are underway for this, systems are being assembled and training courses are being held.
UPM-Kymmene is also cutting its production capacity at its Schongau site in Bavaria. There one of the three machines is to be shut down by June. This would eliminate a capacity of 165,000 tons and up to 135 jobs.
The reason for the cuts, which UPM-Kymmene wants to use to save 13 million euros, is that demand for graphic paper has been falling for 10 years. For the closures, UPM-Kymmene provided a total of 36 million euros in the first quarter – 10 for Laakirchen/Steyrermuehl and 26 for Schongau – back.
Source: Nachrichten
