Sappi shuts down Swiss mill

South African paper maker Sappi said on Wednesday it would close its entire Biberist Mill in Switzerland after failing to find a buyer.

Some 550 employees will be affected by the closure and the company’s annual graphic paper capacity will be reduced by 500 000 tonnes, it said.

“[Sappi] has been unsuccessful in its attempts to find a suitable acquirer to allow continued operations and employment at the mill. The company has therefore decided on the complete closure of the mill,” it said.

Production at paper machines 8 and 9 has already ceased and production on the uncoated paper line will halt at the end of August, it added.

Sappi said there would be no interruption of supplies to customers and the volumes produced at Biberist will be transferred to other Sappi sites in Europe.—Reuters