1992–2024 – New Production Lines, Ownership Changes, and Industry Shifts
Expansion and Facility Upgrades (1992–1996)
The early 1990s were a time of rapid development at Spruce Falls. TMP Line 3 was launched, bringing a fresh boost to pulp production, while a new De-Inking Plant (DIP) also came online that same year. Upgrades to the No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5 paper machines continued steadily, modernizing core operations. Yet, this era of growth was also marked by difficult transitions. The Magnefite Mill was permanently shut down, followed shortly by the closure of the Groundwood and Woodroom operations, ending the era of river drives that had once defined the region’s forestry practices.
Despite these closures, new opportunities emerged. The sawmill reopened, secondary wastewater treatment began, and the second phase of the DIP Plant started operations. The No. 1 paper machine was also restarted, symbolizing renewed momentum. By the mid-1990s, TMP Line 4 was launched, replacing the aging Lines 1 and 2 and setting a new standard for efficiency in pulp production.
Ownership Changes and Mill Challenges (2009–2024)
The next decade brought fresh challenges. In 2009, the mill shut down temporarily, and over 500 employees were laid off. In 2017, Tembec was acquired by Rayonier Advanced Materials, shifting the ownership structure once again. Four years later, in 2021, GreenFirst Forest Products took over the mill operations in Kapuskasing. And most recently, in 2024, GreenFirst restructured, leading to the formation of a new standalone company: Kap Paper — the latest chapter in over a century of forestry and papermaking in Northern Ontario.
