Stora Enso to close down paper machine at Anjala production unit in Finland


FINLAND (News release) -- Stora Enso plans to consolidate its book paper production and permanently close one of the two paper machines at Anjala in Finland. The Group will start change negotiations concerning all employees at the integrated Anjalankoski site.

The Anjalankoski site in Finland includes the Ingerois packaging board production unit and the Anjala paper production unit. Today, the Anjala production unit produces coated and uncoated book papers, coated magazine paper and improved newsprint on two machines. Due to prevailing weak paper demand and high input costs, Stora Enso has initiated a plan to concentrate all book paper production to one line. With the remaining paper machine, the Group would be able to continue producing its selection of book paper grades.

The planned closure of the line producing uncoated mechanical grades would reduce the site's annual capacity by 250,000 tonnes and sales with approximately Euro 100 million.

To proceed with this plan, Stora Enso will start change negotiations concerning all employees at the integrated Anjalankoski site, including the Anjala paper unit and the Ingerois board unit. The closure would take place during the fourth quarter of 2023 and affect an estimated 110 people. No decisions regarding the planned closure and employee reduction will be taken until the change negotiations have been concluded. Stora Enso would be committed to work closely together with other Stora Enso locations, the local community and other stakeholders to support in re-employment and training of the possibly affected employees.

The integrated Anjalankoski site is reported under the Packaging Materials division since the beginning of 2023. The site includes the Ingerois packaging board production unit and the Anjala paper production unit, the latter which was previously reported under the now dissolved Paper division. Stora Enso will continue to harness the site's synergies between board and paper production.

Stora Enso is a leading provider of renewable products in packaging, biomaterials and wooden construction, and one of the largest private forest owners in the world.

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