Papermaking capacity at the Powell River mill is still compromised after a malware attack.
According to a media release issued on March 5, Paper Excellence Canada is now in the second week of an informational technology (IT) event and has recovered its email communications and some networks. The release stated that the company plans to start a paper machine in Powell River in the coming two weeks, based on what has been learned in starting paper machines at Crofton and Port Alberni mills.
Reduced paper production continues but some systems are enabled, identifying which paper orders are planned for production and those that will be deferred. Crofton paper operations have been running for five days and a paper machine at Port Alberni will start later this week.
The media release stated that Paper Excellence hopes to restart Port Alberni’s second paper machine early next week based on logistics and internal capacity to manually fulfill paper orders.
Given the complexity of Paper Excellence’s business systems, it is unable to predict a timeframe when it will be back to normal paper production, the release stated.
On February 20, Paper Excellence Canada advised in a media release that its IT systems had been affected by malware.
The media release stated that the event impacted the company’s email capabilities and enterprise business systems that drive fulfillment of paper manufacturing at Crofton, Port Alberni and Powell River.
The incident has been reported to the RCMP.
