Curtis Papers to shut Mass., Mich. mills

Curtis Papers Inc. intends to discontinue operations at its Adams, Mass., and Port Huron, Mich., specialty printing and writing papers mills within the next 60 days. The company blames the closures on the "current realities of the North American paper markets and the rising costs for energy and fiber." Both mills will continue to operate in the interim period in order to meet immediate customer needs.

The company said the closures will affect 354 salaried and hourly employees. The two nonintegrated mills have five paper machines and converting equipment and produce 70,000 tpy of specialty papers.

The 40-tpd Adams, Mass., mill makes cover, text, and writing grades (including Curtis Flannel and Curtis Tweedweave), and the 170-tpd Port Huron specialty and technical papers mill produces paper for medical, food service, industrial, flexible packaging, giftwrap, and similar applications.

The company-which has a long tradition of making premium printing/writing papers-has struggled in recent years. In April, Curtis Papers shut its 125 tpd-Milford, NJ., specialty mill. In early 2002, Curtis sold its two mills in Scotland to a management group, which operates them as Curtis Fine Papers. In the spring of 2002, the company shut its Richmond, Va., cast-coating operation.