Georgia‐Pacific (GP) is to permanently close its Augusta Select Tissue mill following increased competition in the tissue business.
The move will impact 55 members of staff.
GP said: “The decision to close the facility comes after careful review of the current state of the mill and the tissue business.
“Specifically, this business decision was driven by increased competition in the tissue business and improvement in asset performance at other GP facilities, as well as the size and competitive cost position of the Augusta facility.”
The site was part of the company’s acquisition of SPG in 2014 and made tissue for multiple products.
Rob Shaw, vice president of manufacturing who has oversight for the Augusta tissue facility, said: “Our commitment is to work with employees to find ways to minimise the difficulty as best we can.
“That includes working with state and local employment agencies that can also support these employees.”
The plan for the site is that any usable equipment will be relocated to other GP facilities. Equipment that can’t be moved, including the paper machine, will be dismantled and sold for scrap, and the property will ultimately be sold.
The closure of the tissue mill does not affect GP’s Augusta Corrugated plant or its employees.
