04-25-2006, 08:37 PM
My brother forwarded me this news release today:
Tembec to shut down indefinitely its Smooth Rock Falls, Ontario pulp mill
TEMISCAMING, Que., Apr. 24, 2006 (press release) -- Tembec today announced that its market pulp mill located in Smooth Rock Falls, Ontario will be idled indefinitely, effective July 31, 2006. The Smooth Rock Falls mill produces 200,000 tonnes of Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft (NBSK) pulp annually. The idling will affect approximately 230 employees.
A number of factors have combined to make this decision necessary. Key among these were the high value of the Canadian dollar and the high manufacturing costs at this site relative to global competition. "The combined effect of these factors created a situation that could not be sustained. While there has been some progress over the past two years relative to reducing the delivered cost of fibre, the overall financial performance of the Smooth Rock Falls mill has been unacceptable," said Terrence P. Kavanagh, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
"Decisions of this nature are never easy to make, and Tembec regrets the impact of today's announcement on employees, their families and the Smooth Rock Falls community," concluded Mr. Kavanagh.
This decision is consistent with the recovery plan that was announced previously by Tembec President and CEO, James Lopez. Margin improvement at all manufacturing locations is central to this plan, and the Company had indicated that, where no long term solutions could be identified and implemented to achieve this goal, necessary action would be taken.
During a series of meetings held today, the Smooth Rock Falls employees and union representatives were informed of the Company's decision. The employees had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the situation with mill management. Tembec indicated that it will monitor market, operating and financial factors to determine when or if a future resumption of operations is possible.
Tembec is a large, diversified and integrated forest products company. With operations principally located in North America and in France, the Company employs approximately 10,000 people.
And another small town bites the dust. :(
I confess, I have not been there for 12 years. None of my family lives there anymore, and my friends from there also no longer live there. And yet - it was a fine place to grow up. Now, that opportunity will not be there for another generation of young'uns. On of my brother's best friends is now the Mayor of that small town, and has been trying his level best to find a way to keep it alive - apparently to no avail.
T'is the way of things, when your livelihood depends on a commodity, I know. And, still, I mourn a bit about the loss.
Tembec to shut down indefinitely its Smooth Rock Falls, Ontario pulp mill
TEMISCAMING, Que., Apr. 24, 2006 (press release) -- Tembec today announced that its market pulp mill located in Smooth Rock Falls, Ontario will be idled indefinitely, effective July 31, 2006. The Smooth Rock Falls mill produces 200,000 tonnes of Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft (NBSK) pulp annually. The idling will affect approximately 230 employees.
A number of factors have combined to make this decision necessary. Key among these were the high value of the Canadian dollar and the high manufacturing costs at this site relative to global competition. "The combined effect of these factors created a situation that could not be sustained. While there has been some progress over the past two years relative to reducing the delivered cost of fibre, the overall financial performance of the Smooth Rock Falls mill has been unacceptable," said Terrence P. Kavanagh, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
"Decisions of this nature are never easy to make, and Tembec regrets the impact of today's announcement on employees, their families and the Smooth Rock Falls community," concluded Mr. Kavanagh.
This decision is consistent with the recovery plan that was announced previously by Tembec President and CEO, James Lopez. Margin improvement at all manufacturing locations is central to this plan, and the Company had indicated that, where no long term solutions could be identified and implemented to achieve this goal, necessary action would be taken.
During a series of meetings held today, the Smooth Rock Falls employees and union representatives were informed of the Company's decision. The employees had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the situation with mill management. Tembec indicated that it will monitor market, operating and financial factors to determine when or if a future resumption of operations is possible.
Tembec is a large, diversified and integrated forest products company. With operations principally located in North America and in France, the Company employs approximately 10,000 people.
And another small town bites the dust. :(
I confess, I have not been there for 12 years. None of my family lives there anymore, and my friends from there also no longer live there. And yet - it was a fine place to grow up. Now, that opportunity will not be there for another generation of young'uns. On of my brother's best friends is now the Mayor of that small town, and has been trying his level best to find a way to keep it alive - apparently to no avail.
T'is the way of things, when your livelihood depends on a commodity, I know. And, still, I mourn a bit about the loss.
And you may call it righteousness
When civility survives,
But I've had dinner with the Devil and
I know nice from right.
From Dinner with the Devil, by Big Rude Jake
When civility survives,
But I've had dinner with the Devil and
I know nice from right.
From Dinner with the Devil, by Big Rude Jake