When International Paper announced Thursday it had completed a $2.2 billion purchase of seven facilities owned by Weyerhaeuser, including two mills in Lowndes County, it was big news in the pulp/paper industry.
Meanwhile, at the cellulose fiber mill in Lowndes County, it was pretty much business as usual Thursday.
“Yesterday when we left work, we were Weyerhaeuser. This morning when we got to work, we were International Paper,” said mill manager David Phillips. “Other than that, nothing has really changed.”
International Paper, the world’s largest pulp and paper manufacturer, announced its plans to buy the seven Weyerhaeuser facilities in May. The completion of the sale was greeted favorably at its Lowndes County facilities, which include both the cellulose fiber and modified fiber mills.
“Like it is any time there is some change, there had been some uneasiness,” Phillips said. “But in this case, I think that was at a minimum. We tried to keep our employees in the loop during the process.”
Phillips said he expects the transition to be a smooth one.
The two Lowndes County mills employ about 420 people, including 330 at the cellulose fiber mill.
“There will be no layoffs or any stop in production,” Phillips said. “As for the community, from where we are sitting now and knowing what we know, IP is very community-minded. They like to have a big presence in the community. If anything, our presence in the community is going to be even larger.”
IP, which is based in Memphis, Tennessee, employs roughly 55,000 people in 24 countries. Net sales in 2015 were $22 billion.
The sale will add approximately 1,900 employees to the IP payroll while strengthening its position as the world’s top pulp/paper producer.
“The business objective for us is to leverage the talent, resources and assets of both companies to further improve our clients,” IP spokesman Tom Ryan said Thursday.
Weyerhaeuser will still maintain a presence here, as the sale does not include its other properties such as its Mississippi-Alabama Timberlands Area Headquarters in Columbus and lumber mills in other parts of the state.
Phillips said he received a “welcome to IP” phone call Thursday from Jean-Michael Ribieras, IP’s senior vice president for Global Cellulose Fibers. Ribieras will visit with employees at the mill today, Phillips said.
Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
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