Hard blow for jobs in the Nord region. Ahlstrom is considering selling its parchment paper plant in Bousbecque. On Friday, the Finnish group opened the consultation process with representatives of the 117 employees at the site near Lille, with a view to selling or closing the paper mill.
Its production capacity of 12,000 tonnes a year and special parchment paper materials would be moved to the Saint-Séverin plant in Charente-Maritime.
To explain this decision, Ahlstrom, which operates 37 sites, mentions "overcapacity in the greaseproof paper sector and growing competition". "Despite a thorough examination of the various options, Ahlstrom was unable to find solutions that would enable it to continue operating the Bousbecque mill."
By centralizing its parchment paper production, Ahlstrom would reduce production costs and improve its competitiveness.
"We are committed to examining all possible options to minimize any social consequences, as we understand that this is a difficult time for our Bousbecque employees." says Guillaume Latourrette, Vice-President of Ahlstrom's global food business.
Employees at the Nord plant received support from those at the former Ahlstrom factory in Stenay (Meuse) which suffered the same fate last year. The coated paper mill had finally been bought out by the german investment fund Accursia Capital, which now produces coils under the Stenpa name .
"The Stenay paper mill trade union is standing by the employees of Ahlstrom Bousbecque, helping them to negotiate the PSE and build up their bargaining power, in the hope of finding a buyer. The question can legitimately be asked: when will the next Ahlstrom site in Franceâeuros close?" ask the unions.
