Dec 07, 2005. /Lesprom Network/. UPM has announced a three-month shutdown at its Miramichi mill in New Brunswick, Canada, effective Wednesday, February 1, 2006. The resulting lay-off will affect a number of employees at the paper mill and groundwood mill. The two sawmills and the woodlands division will not be affected by this announcement. "Profitability improvement in UPM's magazine paper business requires cost savings and active capacity management," said Jyrki Ovaska, president of UPM's magazine paper division. "The Miramichi mill has high operating costs, and the strong Canadian dollar makes the mill's exports to the US unprofitable. That's why we have decided to temporarily cease operations at Miramichi during the slowest season of the year." UPM is one of the world's leading forest products companies. The company's businesses focus on magazine papers, newsprint, fine and speciality papers, converting materials and wood products.