Finch Paper Discontinues Pulp Production at Glens Falls, NY, Mill

On Friday, Finch Paper announced that it will discontinue pulp production at its Glens Falls, New York, mill and purchase pulp on the open market, PaperAge reported, citing the Glen Falls Chronicle (7-17-27). Finch said the change will allow the company to focus on its core paper manufacturing business.

Finch said all hourly employees in the pulp mill and associated woodyard will be offered other positions within the company. Many affected salaried employees will also be considered for open positions.

“When Finch transitioned to purchased pulp, it will no longer be necessary for the company to purchase large quantities of logs from wood suppliers in the Northeast and New England,” the company said.

Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast (PLC) called the decision a significant loss for the region’s logging and trucking industry.

“We are deeply concerned for those, including many of our own members in New York, New Hampshire, and Vermont, whose livelihoods will be affected by this announcement. The Glen Falls mill is one of two pulp markets in Eastern New York that purchases wood from logging contractors from multiple states in the Northeast region, and that market is critical both to the financial survival of logging and trucking firms and to their ability to properly manage forest health. Both will suffer from its loss,” PLC Executive Director Dana Doran said.

Finch produces uncoated papers for commercial printing, direct mail, book publishing, financial and transactional printing, envelopes, forms, labels, packaging, and specialty applications.