The Stowe Woodward plant in North Bay, Ont., is closing as a result of reorganization at its parent company, Xerium Technologies, Inc. Xerium manufactures clothing and roll covers used primarily in paper production.
It is expected that production at the North Bay location will cease by August 20, 2010. Local news sources report that 31 jobs will be lost.
"The paper industry has been contracting in North America over the last several years. Many paper machines have been permanently shut down across North America," said Dave Pretty, president, Xerium North America and Europe PMC. "The demand for our products has been affected by these events. As a result, we are adjusting the way we do business and consolidating our roll cover operations in North America."
Stowe Woodward has facilities in Kelso, Washington; Neenah, Wisconsin; Middletown, Virginia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Griffin, Georgia; Ruston, Louisiana; Concord, New Hampshire; and Queretaro, Mexico.
The company went through a brief period of Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this year.