After the permanent closure of UPM Communications Paper’s mill in Ettringen, Germany in July 2025, its annual capacity of uncoated mechanical paper will reduce by 270,000 tonnes.
Mar 12, 2025
In order to selectively align its paper capacity with profitable customer demand to ensure performance, UPM Communication Papers has decided to permanently close its paper mill in Ettringen, Germany, reducing the annual capacity of uncoated mechanical paper by 270,000 tonnes during July 2025.
Should the plans be implemented, the number of positions affected in Ettringen is estimated at 235. The participation process with the workers council will start immediately in line with local legislation.
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“In a dynamically changing market that has been characterized by overcapacity for years, operational competitiveness is key to underpinning our long-term commitment to the still sizeable graphic paper markets and remaining the reliable partner our customers know us to be,” says Gunnar Eberhardt, Executive Vice President, UPM Communication Papers.
“We are continuing to selectively adjust our paper capacity to a profitable customer demand. This would ensure an efficient and flexible use of our remaining paper assets. While we see these planned changes to be necessary to safeguard our strong position and future, we are aware that the announcement demands much from our employees in Ettringen. We aim to handle the restructuring measures in a socially responsible way and will engage now into dialogue with employee representatives,” he adds.
In order to realize further benefits of a scalable and efficient Sourcing organization, UPM plans to discontinue the Central European Mill Support (CEMS) team and streamline its Mill Sourcing and RCP Sourcing teams according to new capacities.
“With the planned measures we improve cost efficiency and competitiveness, while ensuring a reliable supply from our production locations in Finland, Germany, the UK and the USA, ” says Antti Hermonen, Senior Vice President Operations, UPM Communication Papers.
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Considering all planned changes announced by Communication Papers, there would be a total of 462 positions impacted, thereof 107 in Finland, 314 in Germany, 34 in the UK and 7 in the US.
