That move raised everyone else's sewer rates. The company suspended operations in April at the plant on Muskegon Lake. "Certainly this is sad news, but it was somewhat anticipated," said Cindy Larsen, president of the Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce. Dwyer has consistently demonstrated his manufacturing leadership at Sappi with the remarkable recovery of the 2012 flood and in leading the mill during the Cloquet conversion project. At Sappi, we make smart decisions and products backed by our long history of innovation. Subscribe to MLive.com. "This is definitely unfortunate for the folks of Muskegon.". Warren at the same time the fifth paper machine is installed. Ed Garner, president of Muskegon Area First, said he was hoping that Sappi would hold on until spring to see if market conditions improved to the point of bringing workers back. Melching, Inc. is a demolition, dismantling, and industrial remediation services company located in Nunica, Michigan. The Sappi announcement also put to close a 109-year tradition of making paper in the city of Muskegon. Describes Sappi Paper Mill in Muskegon, Mi. As recent as 2005, Sappi had a $50 million-plus annual payroll with the average annual wage of union and management workers at about $70,000. 4 and 5 are still in operation. Sappi Fine Paper North America announced Wednesday morning the permanent closing of its Muskegon mill, ending a 109-year tradition of making paper in the city of Muskegon. Workers had braced themselves for the worst, said Mark Evans -- a 29-year veteran Sappi production worker and member of the Local 1015 bargaining committee. It will not reopen the massive industrial facility, leaving 190 union and salaried workers without a job. The closing will affect approximately 190 salaried and hourly Muskegon employees, who have been on furlough since the suspension of operations at the mill, which was announced in March 2009. Sappi made high-quality, coated publishing paper in Muskegon. "We've been anxiously awaiting to hear with hopes that they would bring back some work," Garner said. Central Resource Centre for all COVID-19 info, https://www.sappi.com/files/2020-sappi-group-sustainability-reportpdf, https://www.sappi.com/files/2019-sappi-north-america-sustainability-report, https://www.sappi.com/product-coc-claim-options, Sappi Update impact of Covid 19 and Covenants, https://www.sappi.com/covid-19-resource-centre, https://www.sappi.com/research-and-development-north-america, California Transparency in Supply Chains Act. S.D. "The permanent closure of the Muskegon mill, while an extremely difficult decision to make, is necessary to ensure that we remain competitive in today's global marketplace," said Ralph Boettger, head of Sappi Limited in Johannesburg. 1900: The first sheets of paper are produced at the Central Paper Co. 1904: A second paper machine is installed. Windward Pointe offers a variety of opportunities for mixed-use development featuring residential, commercial and community features on the shores of Muskegon Lake with access to Lake Michigan, marking a new chapter for the century-old industrial and paper manufacturing site. The decision by the South African paper giant to end its Muskegon operations was based upon the "global economic down turn," company officials said. MUSKEGON, MI – Two potential buyers are interested in the sprawling former Sappi paper mill site on Muskegon Lake. It is now owned by SAPPI Limited, a South African paper concern. In 2004, the county and local municipalities allowed Sappi to pay $750,000 a year less in sewer fees to keep the company competitive in a global market. Learn more about our demonstrated track record of managing sustainability. Pure Muskegon … Aug. 26, 2009: Sappi announces the permanent closure of its Muskegon mill, eliminating the remaining 190 jobs. Rick Dwyer joined Sappi in 2007 as Managing Director of Sappi's former Muskegon Mill until he later served as Managing Director, Cloquet Mill. Running a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week operation, Sappi historically provided its workers large amounts of overtime. The paper pulp operation had a distinctive rotten cabbage odor, which was reduced in recent years. BOSTON – Today Sappi Fine Paper North America announced that Melching, Inc. has purchased the Muskegon Mill site, a former pulp mill, paper mill, and converting facility in Muskegon, Michigan. Today Sappi Fine Paper North America announced that Melching, Inc. has purchased the Muskegon Mill site, a former pulp mill, paper mill, and converting facility in Muskegon, Michigan 1953: The S.D. Sappi production workers are represented by the United Steel Workers of America Local 1015. Over the years, the investment in the 120-acre site was enormous such as the $60 million the company spent in 1987 to build a power boiler/turbine that created its now-signature 210-foot smoke stack. 1899: German immigrant Eugene Meurer establishes the Central Paper Co. in Muskegon and begins building a paper mill at 2400 Lakeshore. Union officials were told less than an hour before the formal announcement was made this morning. The empty factory was imploded in 2013 . Adaption—together with beauty & promise of change. Warren Paper Mill is a paper mill on the Presumpscot River in Westbrook, Maine. Sappi Fine Paper North America Sells Muskegon Mill Site Friday, August 26, 2011 Today Sappi Fine Paper North America announced that Melching, Inc. has purchased the Muskegon Mill site, a former pulp mill, paper mill, and converting facility in Muskegon, Michigan … 1967: Scott Paper Co. buys S.D. Sappi to Permanently Close Muskegon, MI Mill Aug. 26, 2009 - Sappi Fine Paper North America today said that it will permanently cease operations at its coated fine paper mill in Muskegon, Michigan. Known now as Windward Pointe, the 120-acre site on … Pure Muskegon, a group of local investors with a common goal of helping transform the Muskegon Lake lakefront, purchased the former Sappi Fine Paper Mill property in 2016. The most recent was a city-granted tax break on a $4.1 million investment in 2006. Sappi Fine Paper North America announced this morning the permanent closing of its Muskegon mill, ending a 109-year tradition of making paper in the city of Muskegon. "We will be discussing with company officials the use of that property going into the future," Warmington said of the site that has nearly one mile of Muskegon Lake shoreline. Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. Paper machines Nos. Since April, Muskegon's paper production was sent to other Sappi mills in Skowhegan, Maine and Cloquet, Minn. Mayor Steve Warmington expressed concern for the those who had hopes of going back to work at Sappi this fall. … The publicly-traded company is taking a $30 million fourth-quarter charge to its bottom-line to pay for employee separation agreements and closure costs, Sappi reported. Sappi down, scrap yard up in Muskegon Unread post by UncleRaul » Thu Sep 06, 2012 9:35 am Much to the dismay of locals (it's right on the edge of a residential area) the former Sappi paper mill in Muskegon has been torn down and will be a metal scrap yard owned by Melching instead. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. "There's value in the facility and the people associated with it. and its operation. A piece of Muskegon history came down Tuesday morning, as crews demolished another smoke stack at the old Sappi Fine Paper Mill on Lakeshore Drive. 1913: A third paper machine is installed. Unfortunately, the scale of the site made it difficult to successfully compete against larger paper mills throughout the world.". Sappi is hiring an "advisor" to seek purchasers for the Muskegon mill but the company will not be selling the property or its manufacturing assets to a company in the coated paper or writing paper sectors. The remaining paper machine No. The former Sappi Paper Mill Site is going to be transformed into a mixed-use development equipped with residential, commercial and community uses. 5 are suspended due to economic conditions. (Youngrae Kim | MLive.com) In 2005, the company was purchasing $85 million worth of materials and services throughout the state. The last smokestack on the old Sappi paper mill was demolished on Oct 1st, 2017. At times, the community bent over backward in attempts to keep its major employer healthy. The "Windward Pointe" project, announced by the Pure Muskegon … Sappi’s hot melt and wet adhesive label papers are available in a wide variety of converting applications to make a multitude of products truly stand out. It is one of Westbrook's major employers. Warren Co. purchases Central Paper. BOSTON – Today Sappi Fine Paper North America announced that Rick Dwyer and Mike Haws have been appointed as the new managing directors of the Cloquet Mill in Cloquet, Minn. and Somerset Mill in Skowhegan, Maine, respectively. Paper mill located in Muskegon, Michigan. Workers from Melching Inc. began to demolish the historic building Monday morning as part of a plan from Pure Muskegon, an LLC formed by area business leaders that now owns the property, to create a mixed-use development on the 120-acre site that once housed the piano factory, the Central Paper Mill, and, ultimately, the Sappi Fine Paper Mill. ... A one side coated matt label paper with reverse side treatment (62 and 73 g/m²). Prior to that suspension, Sappi Fine Paper North America operated a single paper machine at the site with an annual production capacity of 170,000 metric tons. Sappi permanently ceased operations at the site in August 2009 due to industry and economic conditions. Careers at Sappi Workers are expected to get extended government benefits through the federal "trade adjustment assistance" program, he said. The mill manufactures coated printing papers on one paper machine with 170,000 metric tons of annual production capacity. The company announced Wednesday it was not reopening the plant, which has been closed since April. "You feel for the 190 families as the decision changed their lives," Warmington said. But keeping the plant shut down during the cold winter months was going to be a problem, company officials have said. A one side double coated matt label paper … As managing directors, each will be responsible for overseeing the safety performance, productivity and cost management of the integrated pulp and coated fine paper mills. Creative resources to learn more about paper, printing and everything in between. The Sappi mill closed in 2009 and was sold in 2011 to Melching, Inc. for demolition and recycling. MUSKEGON, Mich. -- A huge new development project was announced Wednesday for the old Sappi paper mill. BOSTON – Today Sappi Fine Paper North America announced that Melching, Inc. has purchased the Muskegon Mill site, a former pulp mill, paper mill, and converting facility in Muskegon, Michigan. Sappi smoke stack demolition in Muskegon, Mich. on Oct. 1, 2017. Garner said his economic development agency will continue to press forward searching for suitable uses for the site. Central Paper Company-Muskegon, Michigan The first paper mill in Muskegon was built in the Lakeside neighborhood. A bulldozer operates in the wood chip pile outside Sappi Fine Paper in this file photo. Over the years, Sappi pumped in tens of millions of dollars a year into the Muskegon economy. Sappi Fine Paper North America is a preeminent North American producer of coated fine paper used in premium magazines, catalogues, books and high-end print advertising. 2009: Operations of the remaining paper machine No. The plant used millions and millions of gallons of water each day and, until the Muskegon County Wastewater Management System was built in 1973, it dumped its waste directly into Muskegon Lake. "Our concerns, hopes and prayers are with them. Over 85% of the energy used by Sappi's North American mills comes from renewable resources, resulting in one of the lowest carbon footprints of any major North American coated paper supplier. In the early '90s, Sappi employed about 1,000 workers but those numbers had been in sharp decline over the recent decade. A small American flag was stuck in the chainlink fence outside of Sappi Fine Paper North America which announced Wednesday morning the permanent closing of its Muskegon mill, ending a 109-year tradition of making paper in the city of Muskegon. "The Asians can sell the paper cheaper than we can make it," Evans said of the global realities. October 1, 2017 / in Muskegon News / by Jim. E-mail Dave Alexander at dalexander@muskegonchronicle.com. There were also air quality issues. 1924: A fourth paper machine is installed. All rights reserved (About Us). "We understand the hardship this decision creates for our employees at the Muskegon mill," Gardner said. Sappi Fine Paper North America announced Wednesday morning the permanent closing of its Muskegon mill, ending a 109-year tradition of making paper in the city of Muskegon. MUSKEGON, MI - With a boom and cloud of dust, a piece of Muskegon's history dropped to the ground early Tuesday to make way for a new chapter. 2000: The community celebrates with the company on the 100th anniversary of the Muskegon mill. On Wednesday, the 190 union and salaried workers remaining at the paper mill site that once employed nearly 1,200 got the news they had hoped never to hear: the machines that make the paper here would be permanently silenced, the doors permanently closed. TM Capital acted as financial advisor to Sappi Fine Paper North America (SFPNA), a division of Sappi Limited, in the sale of its Muskegon, Michigan mill site to Melching, Inc. A piece of Muskegon history came down Tuesday morning, as crews demolished another smoke stack at the old Sappi Fine Paper Mill on Lakeshore Drive. 1994: Sappi Ltd. of South Africa purchases the S.D. Our steadfast values are underprinned by an unrelenting focus on and commitment to safety. Over the decades, the community's relationship with the mill was love-hate -- as in love the jobs but hate the smell and pollution. Local 1015's executive committee will be meeting early next week to begin preparations for negotiations with the company on severance packages, Evans said. Its brand names, including McCoy, Opus, Somerset and Flo, are some of the industry's most widely recognized and specified. Last Sappi Smokestack Comes Down! City officials are meeting with Sappi management Thursday, Warmington said. But as recent as 2006, Sappi paid a $586,000 fine to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for federal Clean Air Act violations. Mark Gardner, president and CEO of Sappi Fine Paper North America in Boston and a former Muskegon mill manager, said the decision to close the mill is not a reflection on the local workers. 4. Sign up and post your Sappi photos online, Mill's demise 'devastating' to longtime employees. © 2021 Advance Local Media LLC. Speculation on whether Sappi Fine Paper -- formerly one of Muskegon's largest employers -- would reopen the plant it idled in April on the Muskegon lakeshore had been churning more vigorously than usual last week. The closure of the mill will affect approximately 190 salaried and hourly Muskegon employees, who have been on furlough since the mill was idled April 1, 2009. Sappi's mills in North America are triple chain of custody certified to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI), and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). Here is an aerial view of the stack looking out over the Muskegon Country Club and on to Lake Michigan. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Sappi Fine Paper North America is known for innovation and quality. But this community will move forward even though the city will be hurt with (less) income and property taxes and down the road it will affect our wastewater system rates.". Warren division of Scott, including the Muskegon mill. • Sign up and post your Sappi photos online. The Muskegon mill manufactured coated printing papers on one paper machine with 170,000 metric tons of annual production capacity. The 120-acre property, located on over a mile of Muskegon Lake shoreline, is now called Windward Pointe. The closing will … If you missed the event, no worries, pictures and video are shown below! Community leaders have been fearing such an announcement from Sappi. The Sappi Fine Paper plant on the shore of Muskegon Lake. Warren Paper Mill in c. 1910 The S.D. Muskegon city commissioners reject petitions request to rezone the 120-acre waterfront property from general industrial to waterfront marine. The company's future expected to be evaluated in fall. You should be confident in your supplier’s approach to sustainability. Sanabe & Associates, LLC, acted as financial advisor to Sappi for the transaction. Boston, Massachutts, USA, and Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August 2009 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Sappi Fine Paper North America today announced that it will permanently cease operations at its coated fine paper mill in Muskegon, Michigan.The closing will affect approximately 190 salaried and hourly Muskegon employees, who have been on furlough since the suspension of operations at the mill, … Keep journalists asking the hard questions. Sappi Fine Paper North America announced it will permanently cease operations at its coated fine paper mill in Muskegon, MI. • Post your comments and personal stories after the story. Melching is currently reviewing plans to redevelop the site for a … MUSKEGON, Mich. – Neighbors and businesses in Muskegon County are getting ready for the old Sappi Paper Mill to come crumbling down this weekend after it’s … The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. "Sappi Fine Paper North America selected Melching, Inc. as the buyer based on its expertise and successful track record in addressing industrial sites, strong long term relationships in the local area and robust redevelopment plans," said Anne Ayer, Vice President, Corporate Development and Chief Information Officer. 5 was producing 170,000 metric tons of paper in its final year of operation. Friday, August 26, 2011. Sappi Fine Paper North America is a division of Sappi Limited (NYSE and JSE), a global company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with manufacturing operations on four continents in 9 countries, sales offices in over 26 countries, and customers in over 100 countries around the world. "This is foreign competition killing the American worker again.". Sappi Fine Paper North America (Muskegon Paper Mill) General Information Description. Muskegon Sappi Papermill Demolitio 27-Oct-2013 10:40AM south view 2005: Sappi cuts 365 jobs as it closes its pulp plant and dismantles paper machine No. For more information about Sappi Fine Paper North America, visit: www.sappi.com/na. "Our workforce in Muskegon is very dedicated, achieving record productivity and safety performance in the last year of operation. Now it's time to get to work on a new use for that property.". Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (each updated 1/1/21). Sappi permanently ceased operations at the site in August 2009 due to industry and economic conditions. • Mill's demise 'devastating' to longtime employees. With each investment, the city of Muskegon granted the company industrial property tax breaks to support the high-paying jobs. Melching is currently reviewing plans to redevelop the site for a variety of industrial uses. The final smokestack at the old Sappi paper mill is demolished. MUSKEGON, MI – The 109 years of making paper at 2400 Lakeshore Dr. along the shores of Muskegon Lake are ingrained in the community’s history. "Certainly our agency stands ready to assist in whatever direction it heads," he said. The parking lot at the Sappi Fine Paper parking lot is locked.