The announcement follows shutdowns on PM3 and PM4 at Inverurie last July, which were taken to balance capacity with demand (PrintWeek, 20 July 2001).

At the time IP Europe president Paul Herbert said Inverurie mill was an essential part of our pan-European business, and a principal service device for the UK market, amid rumours of unrest at the mill and fears over job cuts.

IP UK has started a consultation process with its workforce and unions to discuss the latest proposals. Managing director for manufacturing David Steele said he envisaged that the consultation would take four to eight weeks, but said any job cuts would not affect production capacity.

We are finding in line with many other mills that competition is intense, particularly in the uncoated freesheet market, but we are looking at ways of meeting the challenge to ensure we remain competitive and continue to offer customers the service they expect, said Steele.

He declined to reveal the areas of the mill that would be affected by the proposed cuts.
The company also filed a planning application with Aberdeenshire Council last year to undertake a 430,000 expansion at Inverurie, in a bid to speed up paper production and distribution.

Inverurie mill is known for its uncoated colour paper and board production, including ranges such as Duo office papers. The mill has a capacity of 250,000 tonnes a year and employs around 520 staff.

Story by Andy Scott