LA TUQUE, Quebec — Smurfit Westrock announced it will permanently close one of the paper machines at its La Tuque, Quebec, mill. The machine’s annual production capacity of 127,000 tons of solid bleached sulfate (SBS) has faced ongoing scale and cost challenges. The change is part of the company’s commitment to strengthen its SBS portfolio and ensure the long-term competitiveness of its paperboard operations. Smurfit Westrock will also close the extrusion facility in Pointe-aux-Trembles, Quebec, which converts grades produced on the La Tuque machine. The closures will result in a limited workforce reduction of approximately 30 at La Tuque and approximately 60 at Pointe-aux-Trembles. …“This was a difficult but necessary decision to align with market realities and strengthen our long-term position,” said Laurent Sellier, president and CEO.