West Linn Paper Company will close after 128 years
'Unforeseeable events' led to reduction in pulp, forcing city's only industrial business to close.
West Linn Paper Company, the city’s sole industrial business and a staple of the community for 128 years, is shutting its doors. The company is ceasing operations and “will commence a winding up of its business” on a timetable that has yet to be specified.
In 2016, the company said it had 250 employees. “We are deeply disappointed to end the mill’s 128-year history, the last 20 of which resulted from a major restructuring and restart when our current ownership took control of West Linn Paper Company,” Chief Operating Officer Brian Konen said in a statement.
“The commitment and support that we received from our employees, our lenders and our owners as we sought to adapt to structural changes in our markets has been remarkable. However, several unforeseeable events have led to a significant reduction in available pulp, making continued operations impossible.”
Konen added that the company will begin winding down its operations immediately. Orders for stock products will still be accepted as the company shuts operations down, and orders that have been produced but not yet shipped will also be honored according to the release. Manufacturing orders that have been produced but not shipped will be reviewed and customers will be notified of their status. No new manufacturing orders will be accepted.