MADAWASKA, Maine - Forty-nine workers will lose their jobs at the at the Twin Rivers Paper Co. in Madawaska when the company shuts down one of its No. 3 paper machines that produces a coated paper that is becoming less marketable.
David Deger, vice-president for strategy and marketing at the company, says the mill will expand operations in other areas even as it institutes its reduction in force.
"Well, it's actually part of a larger repositioning of the company assets," Deger says. "We've announced an investment of $12 million, No. 8, that will help us migrate the mix on that machine into grades that are more sustainable moving forward, coupled with some productivity initiatives over the last couple of years, the capacity for one of our smaller machines, PM 3, became somewhat unneeded."
Deger said discussions between company and union officials are currently underway to determine the timetable of the layoffs and what severance packages might be offered.