MIAMISBURG, Ohio, June 24 -- NewPage Corporation today announced that it will take approximately 34,000 tons of coated paper downtime in July in addition to 25,000 tons previously announced on June 5. Additionally, three sheeters scheduled to shut down in third quarter of 2008 at the company's Chillicothe, Ohio converting facility will now cease production July 11.

Of the 34,000 tons of downtime, approximately 18,000 tons will be taken at the Kimberly, Wisconsin mill and the balance by accelerating the previously-announced closure of the Niagara, Wisconsin mill to June 21. The affected Kimberly machines produce coated freesheet, and the Niagara mill produced lightweight coated groundwood papers.

The Chillicothe converting facility will shut down three folio sheeters, while one remaining digital sheeter continues production until the facility's planned closure in the fourth quarter 2008. The balance of the Chillicothe converting machines were moved to the converting operations in Luke, Maryland at the end of May as scheduled. The Chillicothe sheet production volume will be transferred to converting operations in Luke, Maryland and Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.

"We have recently announced a number of downtime activities due to the very difficult, unpredictable environment in which we are operating. Rising, volatile inflationary costs for energy, raw materials and transportation coupled with weak demand require us to regularly review our cost platform as well as the balance between our production and market demand. To be successful and viable long-term, we believe it is imperative to be flexible and responsive to these changing conditions," said Rick Willett, president and chief operating officer. "We are committed to continuing to keep our stakeholders apprised of any new significant decisions as we move forward."