Sappi North America sells coated freesheet PM at shut Michigan mill to firm in Mexico

By Greg Rudder, Editor, PPI Pulp & Paper Week, RISI

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 18, 2010 (RISI) - The No. 5 coated freesheet (CFS) paper machine at the Muskegon, MI, mill was sold to an unnamed Mexican company, a Sappi Fine Paper North America official said.

The mill, which was idled in April 2009 and permanently shut in July 2009, had operated two machines, Nos. 4-5. PM 4 was closed in 2005.

An auction on Sept. 29, 2010, was done by LiquiTech industries on the PMs and other equipment at the Muskegon mill.

The PM 5 was sold before the auction. It is shown with capacity of 171,000 tons/yr. It produced CFS grades includes heavier basis weights.