The skyline in Forney, Texas, looks a little different these days if you’re looking toward the industrial sector. For years, the massive paper operations east of Dallas were a quiet powerhouse of the local economy. But lately, people have been asking a lot of questions about the Smurfit Westrock Forney mills. You’ve probably heard whispers about layoffs or seen the news about the global merger between Smurfit Kappa and WestRock.
Honestly, the situation is more nuanced than just "another plant closing."
While a big chunk of the production has indeed been halted, the story isn't over for the Forney site. It’s a classic example of what happens when a $30 billion global merger hits the reality of a shifting economy. Basically, Smurfit Westrock is trying to trim the fat, and Forney ended up on the chopping block—sorta.
The Shutdown That Caught Forney by Surprise
In early 2025, Smurfit Westrock made an announcement that sent shockwaves through the North Texas manufacturing community. They decided to permanently discontinue containerboard production at the Forney location. This wasn't some minor tweak; it was part of a massive 500,000-ton capacity reduction across their global footprint.
When you lose 200 jobs in a town like Forney, it’s a big deal.
The layoffs didn't happen all at once. They were rolled out over a two-week period starting at the end of June 2025. It’s tough. You’ve got people who have worked at that mill since the early 2000s—folks who saw the facility change hands and grow—now looking for work or considering relocation packages.
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Tony Smurfit, the big boss at Smurfit Westrock, basically said the decision came down to "realistic expectations" of what the market needs. In plain English? They had too much stuff and not enough people buying it at the price they needed.
What stayed and what went?
It's important to get the details right here because the entire site didn't just vanish into thin air.
- The Containerboard Mill: This is the part that closed. It’s the heavy-duty side of the business that makes the guts of corrugated boxes.
- The Specialty Coating Facility: This is the survivor. Smurfit Westrock kept this part of the Forney operation running. It’s actually one of the top off-line coated product operations in the Americas.
So, if you drive by and still see trucks moving, that’s why. The specialty coatings—the stuff that makes high-end packaging look shiny and stay durable—is still very much alive in Forney.
Why Smurfit Westrock Forney Mills Faced the Ax
Why Forney? Why now? To understand the Smurfit Westrock Forney mills closure, you have to look at the 2024 merger. Smurfit Kappa (from Ireland) and WestRock (from the US) joined forces to become a global packaging titan.
But when two giants get married, they usually find they have two of everything.
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The company identified over $400 million in "synergies." In corporate speak, that usually means closing the less efficient plants to save money. Since the merger, they’ve cut about 4,500 people globally. Forney’s containerboard line was deemed one of those "inefficient or loss-making operations" that didn't fit the new, leaner vision of the company.
It also doesn't help that the containerboard market has been, well, kinda bad lately. Overcapacity is a real headache in the paper industry right now. When everyone is making more boxes than the world needs, the oldest or most expensive-to-run mills are the first to go.
The Human Impact and the Local Economy
If you talk to anyone in Kaufman County, they’ll tell you the mill was more than just a taxpayer. It provided steady, middle-class manufacturing jobs in a region that is rapidly turning into a sea of residential rooftops.
The company did offer severance and "career transition assistance," but let’s be real—applying for a new job after twenty years at the same mill is a massive life upheaval. Some workers were encouraged to apply for positions at other Smurfit Westrock plants, but that often means moving away from Texas entirely.
Forney has been booming as a "city without limits," but losing a major industrial anchor like the containerboard mill hurts the local tax base. It’s a reminder that even in a booming state like Texas, global corporate shifts can hit home hard.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Mill
One of the biggest misconceptions is that the plant was "old and failing." That’s not really the case. The specialty coating side is actually quite sophisticated.
Another thing people miss is the sustainability angle. Smurfit Westrock is obsessed with the "circular economy." They use a massive amount of recycled fiber—about 14 million tons a year globally. The Forney mill was a part of that ecosystem, turning old paper back into useful packaging. The irony isn't lost on the workers: as the world moves away from plastic and toward paper packaging, their specific mill was the one that got shut down.
What’s Next for the Site?
So, what happens to the empty parts of the Smurfit Westrock Forney mills? Usually, these big industrial sites don't stay quiet for long.
- Repurposing: There’s always a chance another player in the paper or recycling industry buys the equipment.
- Continued Specialty Ops: The specialty coating facility is still a "core" asset. We might even see Smurfit Westrock invest more into that specific tech now that they aren't distracted by the containerboard side.
- Real Estate: Given how fast Forney is growing, that land is worth a fortune. Don't be surprised if developers start eyeing the "buffer" land for warehouses or distribution centers.
The company is still focusing heavily on its 2026 goals, which include a massive pivot toward even more sustainable "Better Planet Packaging." Whether Forney plays a bigger role in that future or remains a "split" facility depends on how the global market recovers.
Actionable Next Steps
If you’re a former employee, a local business owner, or just a curious resident, here is how you should navigate the current situation:
- Monitor the Specialty Coating Division: Keep an eye on local job listings specifically for "specialty coatings" or "chemical processing" at the Forney site. This is where the remaining stability is.
- Check the WARN Act Listings: For those tracking the broader Texas economy, the Texas Workforce Commission’s WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) notices are the best place to see exactly how many positions are being phased out in real-time.
- Leverage Local Resources: If you were impacted by the layoffs, the Forney Economic Development Corporation (EDC) often has resources for displaced workers and can point you toward other manufacturing hubs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area that are currently hiring.
- Follow the Quarterly Earnings: If you're an investor or just want to know the "why" behind these moves, read the Smurfit Westrock (SW) quarterly reports. They’ve been very blunt about closing "inefficient" assets, and it’ll give you a heads-up if more changes are coming to the Texas region.
The closure of the containerboard line is a tough pill to swallow, but the remaining coating facility means Smurfit Westrock hasn't completely given up on Forney just yet.