ST Tissue Announces Major Expansion of Virginia Plant

Tak Investments Inc., owner of tissue mills in Oconto Falls, Wis., USA, and Franklin, Va., yesterday (5/24/2017) announced the addition of a new hard-wound towel line at ST Tissue LLC in Franklin. 

ST Tissue, in the midst of a $40 million expansion that includes a 50,000-ton-per-year dry crepe machine to go alongside its 70,000-ton-per-year wet crepe machine, has installed a downstream converting line and will be able to provide customers’ needs in the Away from Home (AfH) market with toweling finished goods beginning this month. 

An in-depth feature article on ST Tissue’s new dry crepe machine at Franklin is included in the Spring/Summer 2017 issue of TAPPI’s Tissue360o magazine. A digital version of this report is available online. 

ST Tissue’s latest expansion is expected to increase tissue capacity at the Franklin plant by about 50%, and ST Tissue is in the process of adding about 50 employees.

"This is the next step in fulfilling our vision of building a world-class AfH tissue facility and rebuilding a community devastated by a mill closure," said Sahil Tak, VP of ST Tissue. "Adding converting capabilities allows us to better serve our existing customers, who have expressed an interest in further utilizing ST Tissue’s papermaking capacity by expanding their toweling product line, and continue to make a positive impact in our community through the addition of jobs and partnership opportunities."

ST Tissue purchased the shuttered Franklin facility in 2012, renovated the plant and equipment, and started production in 2013. The mill produces high-quality, 100% recycled kraft napkin and towel for the AfH market. The expansion will enable ST Tissue to produce recycled bleached (photo of fiber recycling plant above), along with virgin, napkin and towel beginning in early 2018. 

The company’s Wisconsin plant, ST Paper LLC, was purchased out of financial trouble in 2007 and produces high-quality bath tissue, napkin, and towel for the AfH market.

More information about ST Paper LLC in Oconto Falls and ST Tissue LLC in Franklin is available online.