International Paper (IP), the world's largest producer of bleached board, will initiate a series of shutdowns in response to low demand for bleached board.

The shutdowns include stopping production at the Rieglewood, N.C. mill for one week and the number 15 bleached board machine for three months at the end of August, halting two paper machines that churn out 965-tons/day of coated bleached paperboard and printing bristols, and a pulp dryer that produces 1,435-tons/day of bleached hardwood and softwood market pulp capacity.

The three month shutdown of machine number 15 will result in 55 layoffs.