Falconbridge Ltd. is planning an extended summer shutdown of its Sudbury smelter from June 18 to Aug. 8. Company officials say the 52-day maintenance and vacation shutdown is to ensure its facility runs at 100 per cent peak annual efficiency. The savings of the cost-cutting move will not be known until the end of the fiscal year. About 250 workers will be affected. Normally maintenance shutdowns run from June 18 to July 7 at the smelter, while vacation shutdowns run from July 8 to Aug. 8. Falconbridge's mining and milling operation in Sudbury will also undergo a maintenance shutdown from July 14 to July 28. Technical improvements at smelter has boosted capacity, but outstripped the available nickel ore fed to the facility.
