Jan 11, 2006. /Lesprom Network/. International Paper Co. told its Cantonment mill employees that it plans to eliminate an estimated 200 jobs, about a quarter of its work force, in the spring of 2007. The announcement came five months after the mill made public its plan to invest more than $100 million in the mill, and to convert a machine that produces 350 000 tonnes of uncoated paper annually into one that produces 500 000 tonnes a year of lightweight linerboard. The conversion is scheduled for the first quarter 2007, said Chris Read, the mill's manager. The mill plans to make the employee cuts through voluntary and attrition programs, trying to minimize the number of involuntary cuts, Mr. Read said. In July, International Paper announced a sweeping restructuring plan expected to dramatically shrink the world's largest paper company to boost profits and cut debt. The strategy involved selling $8 billion to $10 billion in assets, including millions of acres of forestland throughout the nation, closing mills and possibly relocating its headquarters. Substantial job cuts were expected. The Cantonment mill's work force will shrink from about 700 to 500 employees. International Paper eliminated 110 jobs at its Cantonment mill in April 2005 when it shut down another machine that produced uncoated paper. International Paper, which is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, is a diversified, global company with manufacturing operations in the western hemisphere, Europe, Asia and Africa.