LOW MOOR — The COVID-19 pandemic continues to take a toll on the Highlands’ economy as WestRock has laid off eight employees at its Low Moor converting facility.
A sheeting line has been temporarily taken off line, due to decreased customer demand.
“As a company, we match our production with our customer demand,” said John Pensec, director for corporate communications at WestRock headquarters in Atlanta.
WestRock plants in Covington and Low Moor together employ about 1,100 workers.
The Low Moor converting plant serves WestRock customers by providing extrusion coating, custom sheeting and custom winding capabilities.
Earlier this month, WestRock said it would lay off 67 employees at its Covington paper mill.
One paper machine at the mill was scheduled to be temporarily shut down this month — a result of decreased customer demand.
The shutdown was expected to last 30 days, contingent on market conditions.
The mill manufactures bleached paperboard used in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmetics, electronics, tobacco and food industries.