Operations News

Essity has appointed Andreas Mattsson as the new Chief Legal Officer and member of the company's Executive Management Team. He succeeds Mikael Schmidt who has decided to retire as of December 31, 2026.

The investment covers AI-based analyzers for panel repairing lines at both facilities. The Visual Analyzer R7 enables advanced defect detection and supports more accurate and efficient panel repair operations through AI-based analysis.

No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

International Paper has proactively decided to temporarily suspend operations at its Pine Hill, Ala., mill after a weather event damaged a critical roof at the facility. International Paper values the safety of its employees and contractors above all else and took this action out of an abundance of caution.

International Paper, a leader in sustainable packaging, today announced it will close its Carrollton South packaging facility located in Carrolton, Texas by the end of the third quarter of 2026. The decision is part of the company's ongoing work to align its manufacturing footprint with customer demand and strengthen the long-term competitiveness of its North America packaging business.

Mercer International Inc. reported that its indirectly wholly owned subsidiary Mercer Torgau GmbH & Co. KG is undertaking strategic actions to align its capacity and operations with current market conditions and elevated raw material and energy costs.

Nordic Veneer Inc. has announced it will permanently cease production at its facility in Roseburg, Oregon, ending more than 72 years of continuous operation as a family-owned cornerstone of Douglas County's timber industry.

Rayonier Inc. announced the appointment of Ryan Daniels as Senior Vice President, Wood Products, effective immediately. Mr. Daniels has served as Interim Senior Vice President, Wood Products, since March 20, 2026.

USG, an employer in the area for more than a century, employs 300 people in Oklahoma, according to the Major County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC).

Curtailments continue, leaving 175 sidelined.

Mercer International Inc., a global forest products company with operations in Germany, the U.S., and Canada, announces that its German pulp mill, Mercer Rosenthal, will extend its maintenance shutdown.

Beech Island fire crews responded to a confirmed fire at the Kimberly-Clark facility in Beech Island Thursday afternoon, June 25,according to officials.

When crews arrived, they found heavy fires burning in the "bag house" silos outside the building and immediately began attacking the blaze. As additional personnel arrived, firefighters entered the facility and located fire in the plant's sander machine.

One person was taken to the hospital Wednesday morning, July 1, after what initially appeared to be a hazardous materials incident at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company facility in Longview, the site of a deadly chemical tank implosion in May.

Smurfit Westrock has notified the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development that it plans to permanently close its Lebanon facility, affecting 52 employees.

The UPM Kaukas pulp mill will be temporarily shut down as of August 3, 2026 for approximately six weeks. In addition, a potential temporary shutdown of the UPM Pietarsaari pulp mill is being planned for October.

Public records show employees at the Nippon Dynawave paper mill in Longview raised alarms about deteriorating equipment and maintenance needs years before last month's chemical tank rupture that killed 11 people and injured seven others.

Arriving at the mill, crews found the man had "moderate" injuries after falling into the pit, placed him in a rescue basket, then lifted him to safety.

The measures will lead to the termination of employment or a change in duties for 72 people.

The paper mill employs 550 people. It's unclear how many employees are unable to work but will be compensated.

Firefighters remained on scene for approximately three hours. A damage estimate is not yet available.

Sonoco will have a 24-hour fire watch set up for the coming days, officials said.

Officials have identified all 11 victims killed in the accident. Families are paying tribute to their loved ones on social media and through online fundraisers.

A freeway procession was held Saturday, June 6, to return the Longview paper mill victims to their homes from King County.

This past week, the Japanese-owned company confirmed that some shipping activities had resumed, and a union spokesperson said a number of workers were back at the mill, with the remainder ready and available to come back when they're called."