In 1971 in Luke, the No. 10 digester was started up. No. 5 Paper Machine's headbox was rebuilt at a cost of $500,000. The Mechanicville mill shuts down and the Tyrone mill curtails two-thirds of its operation.

In 1972, Covington No. 1 and No. 2 Paper Machine are permanently shutdown. In Luke, No. 3 recovery boiler is started up at a cost $9.5 million. The Luke Post Office Building is demolished for warehouse expansion. The post office is now in the Devon Club.

In 1973, No. 1 Recovery Boiler starts up in Covington and the Rotaries are shut down. A new precipitator is started up on Luke's No. 24 boiler, a $1.1 million project. Luke No. 8 PM sets a production record of 339 tons per day average in October.

By 1974, chips from sawmills, formerly waste products, are 50% of the Covington mill's furnish. A new purchased chip unloading system in Luke's Beryl yard was started up. Luke No. 9 Paper Machine achieved a new speed record of over 1900 fpm.

In 1975, Luke No. 1 and 2 Paper Machines are shut down permanently, with No. 3 Paper Machine shut down for an indefinite period because of market conditions and lack of orders. The expansion of the waste treatment plant is announced. Work will include a new primary clarifier, major modifications of the municipal sewage handling system, replacement of the entire aerator system and a cooling tower. The estimated cost of the improvements will be nearly $5 million.

During 1976, Luke's Nos. 1, 2 and 3 paper machies are completed (the original three). Two Accutrim units are rebuilt in the Finishing Department to increase capacity by 1,000 tons per month.

During 1977, Luke No. 4 Paper Machine is shut down with the Luke mill saying they will no longer make uncoated papers.

During 1978, the UPIU called a strike at the Covington and Luke mills. The strike lasts for 89 days from November 18, 1978 to February 5, 1979. The Piedmont Foundry, originally built in 1981, is torn down for use as an employee parking lot. The Luke finished product warehouse is expanded to 200,000 square feet.

In 1979, the ovenable tray product was introduced. In Luke, major improvements to No. 8 Paper Machine are completed. A thirty megawatt turbo-generator is installed making the Luke mill self- sufficient in energy during normal operations. New rewinders are installed on No. 8 and 9 paper machines.