US-based KapStone Paper and Packaging has restarted the #11 paper machine at its mill in Longview, Washington.
The company said that this is in accordance with a contingency plan to operate the mill at the time of a strike.
The latest machine is the second of the mill’s five paper machines that have been restarted after the AWPPW union Local 153 initiated a work stoppage on 27 August 2015.
It produces a wide range of kraft paper products and extensible kraft papers for external customers in the US as well as abroad.
Paper machine #10 was the first one to restart operation on 31 August after a maintenance outage that followed the stoppage. It produces containerboard primarily for KapStone’s corrugated box plants located in the Pacific Northwest region.
Shortly after paper machine #10 restarted, the mill began shipping products to customers according to its contingency plan.
The mill will boost production with its #10 and #11 machines.
KapStone Paper and Packaging kraft paper division president Randy Nebel said that employee teams from across the US are working to ensure a smooth return to full production.
"We continue to live up to our commitment to provide customers with a broad range of products and services, despite the strike," Nebel added.