Pixelle to close Chillicothe paper mill; print manufacturers brace for impact

Tuesday, Pixelle Specialty Solutions announced the closure of their Chillicothe, Ohio paper mill after 215 years in business. 

The value of this mill cannot be undersold; throughout the years, it has become one of the largest paper mills in North America, supplying bond and other critical substrate materials to print manufacturers, and providing thousands of jobs to generations of the small town of Chillicothe. 

As a pillar of the community, many locals wonder what comes next for Chillicothe. Over 800 people who work for the mill will be out of work within 60 days - many of whom have been in the business for decades. As a prominent fixture, local businesses fear the closure will result in loss of sales income, damaging the local economy.

The company recognizes the transition will be difficult, and aims to make it as smooth as possible for everyone involved. Pixelle is offering job placement assistance in the midst of the shut down, and union workers plan to negotiate a severance package as the time draws near. 

Through the closure of the Chillicothe mill, Pixelle hopes to strengthen their remaining facilities located in Fremont, Ohio and Spring Grove, Ohio. Many of the specialty papers produced in Chillicothe will be relocated to these mills to continue production. However, some products may no longer be available.

This move will force our industry suppliers to look overseas for their supply, and with the uncertainty around tariffs and our global economy, many print manufacturers are scrambling to ensure they can affordably source the paper they need.