Major equipment and infrastructure investments totalling USD 250 million

• Wisconsin Rapids Pulp Mill converted to fully bleached fine paper pulp
• Rebuild of paper machines at the Wisconsin Rapids, Kimberly and Biron mill sites
• Modifications to paper machines at Niagara and Whiting
• Expansion of the thermomechanical pulp line at Port Hawkesbury

Permanent shutdowns of uncompetitive paper machines and pulping units

• Shutdown of PM12 at Wisconsin Rapids
• Shutdown of PM24 at Biron
• Shutdown of groundwood and high-yield pulp operation at Port Hawkesbury
• Closure of  groundwood pulp mill at Kimberly

Improved product portfolio, enhanced quality
Workforce reductions

Personel reductions

The programme inevitably included significant personnel reductions as some machines that were not or would not be competitive in the long term were shut down. Some difficult decisions therefore had to be made to achieve the full potential of the assets. By 2005 the Group will be employing some 5 000 people in North America, down from 7 300 in 2000.

The percentage reduction in the workforce in North America since 2000 is slightly over 30% for both management and hourly-paid workers. Workforce reductions have been achieved in a number of ways, including severance, retirement and attrition. Stora Enso North America has provided outplacement services to help displaced employees find new employment through a special career centre.