Shotton Paper Mill PM1 newsprint machine switched off for the last time.

After 29 years, 9 months, 2 days – producing 5.8 million tonnes of high quality newsprint UPM Shotton’s PM1 machine has shut down for the final time.

The picture posted on Facebook shows employees Phil Elliott and Roger Coburn holding a simple placard with the line “Thank you to all employees who have contributed to a job well done” 

Until last Thursday, UPM Shotton operated two newsprint machines employing 370 people, the machines manufacture standard newsprint, the paper used for newspapers and magazines, the company has closed one of the two machines at Shotton paper in order to reduce production across Europe by 800,000 tonnes, in a cost saving, profiting increasing exercise as demand for newsprint declines.

A total of 121 jobs have been lost due to the closure at Shotton, the decision to close the machine was announced before Christmas. 

Machines will also close at UPM Kaukas and UPM Jämsänkoski in Finland bring the total job loses in the three plants across Europe to 373.

Bernd Eikens, Executive Vice President, UPM Paper ENA:

“These decisions are unfortunate for the personnel involved, and the past months have been challenging for all of us. From the business point of view, the measures taken are necessary to improve our operating rates and profitability in the European paper business, which still suffers from overcapacity. By reducing capacity we ensure the efficient use of our remaining machines in Europe,”