Felix Schoeller to shut down decor paper machine at Titisee-Neustadt mill in Germany

Oct 07, 2010. /Lesprom Network/. The Titisee-Neustadt mill belonging to Technocell Dekor – a subsidiary of Felix Schoeller – has two paper machines, PM 17 and PM 18. Whereas plans for PM 18 envisage it continuing to produce specialties such as pre-impregnated papers and resin-saving papers, there is no alternative to mothballing PM 17 by 30 September 2011 at the latest, company said in a statement received by Lesprom Network. Each year PM 17 produces 20,000 tonnes of decor paper, which is used as a surface finish for flooring, worktops and furniture. Dr. Matthias Rauhut, the member of the board of Felix Schoeller Holding with responsibility for the Group’s mills, explains the rationale behind the restructuring measures: “PM 17, which we are about to shut down, is the smallest and least specialised of the paper machines within the Felix Schoeller Group that produce standard decor papers. This paper machine no longer meets all the requirements of efficient and highly productive decor paper production." The shutdown measure, which is designed to cut costs, means that 84 of a total of 189 jobs at the Titisee-Neustadt mill will be lost on 1 April 2011. The redundancies will be managed in a way that is as socially acceptable as possible.