Verso Paper

Farmboy 96 · August 20, 2015, 01:10:43 PM

Don't know how true it is but the guy who hauls wood for me told me heard there laying off 300 people at their Jay Mill. Shutting down a paper machine and basically freezing production at one of the Kentucky mills. It dosn't surprise me about the jay mill they've been fighting the town about taxes and have been trying to get a natural gas pipeline in but neither ones been working out to good for them.

jd540b · August 20, 2015, 03:55:32 PM

It's true, unfortunately.

Woodhauler · August 20, 2015, 05:15:38 PM

its true, but I bet the production has been down for a long time! Bet they will still make same amount of paper if needed but with out the extra cost of 330 people. Sad but true.

Maine logger88 · August 20, 2015, 10:00:37 PM

Wow that doesn't sound good I wonder if there will even be a paper market in Maine in 10 years at this rate. I hope A bunch of us don't have to start looking for another job...

HiTech · August 21, 2015, 01:09:57 AM

Paper Mills are getting scarce in America. They have moved offshore where wages are low and OSHA and the EPA aren't problems. I worked for St. Regis/Champion for 33 years and thought it would be around forever. Once the Politicians got involved...we were history. Bucksport was very modern mill compared to what we had and that closed up as did Cortland Alabama I believe. Plus many, many more. With Inflation and deregulation and open borders and probably a few more we didn't stand a chance. The CEO's had to justify their salaries and their $400 and $500 million Golden Parachutes. We were once a manufacturing Giant and now we are a services nation. Computer jobs and flipping burgers at McDonald's. lol

thecfarm · August 21, 2015, 05:23:14 AM

Yes,it's sad to see that again.I thought the same as HiTech. Times were good at one time. How times has changed.

Gearbox · August 21, 2015, 04:15:26 PM

As I see the paper industry I think hi tech is the reason . A paper machine is so fast now that one machine is replacing 3 or 4 of the old ones . They have to be where the wood is . Gearbox

sandsawmill14 · August 21, 2015, 08:04:42 PM

also think about how much email and electronics have done away with paper. my daughter is taking 3 college classes this year and 2 of them dont even have a textbook its all online ( the books are online the classes are on campus )

CuddleBugFirewood · August 21, 2015, 08:13:49 PM

Their stock is below one dollar and in danger of being delisted. I also read in their press release that paper demand is down considerably for the coated paper I forget the exact percentage but I think around 10% in the last couple years. The also blame the strong dollar for making imports of paper cheaper while also making exports more expensive

I don't know of any good options in the Illinois Missouri Kentucky area for taking Pulpwood.
I am curious what other loggers in my area are doing. I don't sell much pulp, but was hoping to have some other markets. Maybe I need to get back in the firewood business

Puffergas · August 21, 2015, 09:03:22 PM

Our Hammermill Paper plant shut down about 20 years ago. At one time computers increased paper use but now that might not be true. I think toilet paper is still in use..

Maine logger88 · August 21, 2015, 09:59:23 PM

I heard the mill in woodland just put in 2 tissue machines and if that goes well there gonna put in 2 more! I am not sure what species they use to make tissues tho

jd540b · August 22, 2015, 12:07:35 PM

I was told one of the machines shut down was a pulp dryer that made rolled softwood pulp. The biggest user of that product was their mill in Buckport. They will keep buying hardwood but no more spruce groundwood and softwood quota is going to be cut.

Woodhauler · August 22, 2015, 01:28:12 PM

Once they clean up the piledown yards things should be ok! They have a LOT OF WOOD GOING BAD!! Time for the wood buyers to start buying what they need! I would rather have a couple loads aweek instead of having it wide open then shut off indefintly!

Maine logger88 · August 22, 2015, 04:53:04 PM

Quote from: Woodhauler on August 22, 2015, 01:28:12 PM
Once they clean up the piledown yards things should be ok! They have a LOT OF WOOD GOING BAD!! Time for the wood buyers to start buying what they need! I would rather have a couple loads aweek instead of having it wide open then shut off indefintly!

Yeah that's true I think a lot of chip guys are pulping more right now which is part of the problem. And I agree 100% about The wood buyers

snowstorm · August 23, 2015, 04:18:23 PM

they have natural gas at the mill. same old story it costs to much. the ground wood side is shutting down. and by downsizing a bit and the bio boiler running on mill wast they will not need to buy gas. that and letting 300 people go results in big savings