Feb 10, 2009. Millar Western announced production curtailments and workforce reductions at its lumber and pulp operations. Effective February 16, operating rates at the Whitecourt and Boyle sawmills will each be reduced by one shift, cutting the company's total lumber output by approximately 15 million board feet per month. The Whitecourt pulpmill will curtail output by 10 thousand tonnes per month.

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Millar Western curtails production, reduces workforce

Feb 10, 2009. /Lesprom Network/. Responding to the severity of the global economic decline and unprecedented weakness in market conditions, Millar Western curtails production and reduces workforce at its lumber and pulp operations, the company said in a statement received by Lesprom Network. Effective February 16, operating rates at the Whitecourt and Boyle sawmills will each be reduced by one shift, cutting the company's total lumber output by approximately 15 million board feet per month. The Whitecourt pulpmill will curtail output by 10 thousand tonnes per month. Along with staff reductions made at the company's Edmonton head office, the production curtailments will result in termination or layoff for 138 employees. The curtailments are being implemented to reduce losses and conserve the company's financial strength through the current economic downturn. The duration of the curtailments will be subject to market conditions, and reviewed on a month-to-month basis. Millar Western is a privately-owned forest products company headquartered in Edmonton and producing 450 million board feet per year of dimension lumber and 300 thousand tonnes per year of high-yield pulp at operations in Whitecourt, Boyle and Fox Creek, Alberta.