Apr 03, 2007. /Lesprom Network/. Fraser Papers Inc. announced on April 2 the temporary shutdown of its sawmills located in Juniper, New Brunswick, and Ashland, Maine beginning April 2, 2007 due to weak demand. The company expects the shutdown to be for two weeks in Juniper and four weeks in Ashland, depending on market conditions. The company's sawmill located in Masardis, Maine, will increase production by adding a third shift and employing most of the employees from the Ashland operation. The temporary shutdown of the Juniper mill affects approximately 180 employees. During the first quarter of 2007, the company took two weeks of downtime at its sawmills, in Juniper and Plaster Rock, New Brunswick as well as three weeks at the Ashland mill and one week at the Masardis mill. The company noted that construction activity for new housing has decreased considerably from 2006 levels. Fraser Papers is an integrated specialty paper company which produces a broad range of specialty packaging and printing papers. The company has operations in New Brunswick, Maine, New Hampshire and Quebec. Fraser Papers is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.