US-based KapStone Paper and Packaging has announced that its mill in Longview, Washington, has restarted its #11 paper machine.
According to the company, this is in accordance with a contingency plan to operate the mill at the time of a strike.
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The latest machine is the second of the mill’s five paper machines that have restarted following a work stoppage initiated by the AWPPW union Local 153 on 27 August 2015.
Paper machine #10 was the first one to restart operation. It produces containerboard primarily for KapStone’s corrugated box plants located in the Pacific Northwest region.
The machine was restarted on 31 August after a maintenance outage that followed the stoppage.
KapStone’s paper machine #11 produces a variety of kraft paper products and extensible kraft papers for external customers in the US as well as abroad.
Shortly after paper machine #10 restarted, the mill began shipping products to customers according to its contingency plan.
The mill is expected to boost production with its #10 and #11 machines.
KapStone Paper and Packaging kraft paper division president Randy Nebel said that employee teams from across the US are working to ensure a smooth return to full production.
Nebel said: "We continue to live up to our commitment to provide customers with a broad range of products and services, despite the strike."
On 27 August, KapStone received a notice of a work stoppage from the AWPPW Local 153 union and has been preparing for a potential strike since the union voted down its prior offers.
Image: Paper machine #10 produces containerboard for KapStone’s corrugated box plants. Photo: courtesy of Gualberto107 via FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
