At a special open-house ceremony, Sappi Fine Paper North America (SFPNA), Boston, Mass., USA, yesterday (October 30) announced the successful completion of its $170 million capital conversion project at the Cloquet Mill in Minnesota to produce specialized cellulose, which is used in textile and consumer goods markets. The conversion, launched in 2011, was accomplished on time, within budget, and safely, the company notes.
"Sappi's investment in the Cloquet Mill reinforces our position as a worldwide leader in the specialized cellulose market, demonstrating our reputation of reliability and technical know-how," said Mark Gardner, president and CEO, SFPNA. "Through incredible teamwork, the remarkable execution of our specialized cellulose conversion is a reflection of Sappi Fine Paper North America's expertise in manufacturing new, innovative products with the unparalleled quality our customers have come to expect."
Sappi globally is currently the largest producer of specialized cellulose in the world with capacity totaling more than 1.3 million metric tpy. Specialized cellulose, also known as dissolving wood pulp, is a versatile raw material used by manufacturers to produce a wide range of products including textile fibers, pharmaceutical, beauty, and household products.
"The Cloquet Mill is ideally suited to help Sappi secure its global leadership position regarding specialized cellulose. It is the newest pulp mill in America, close to its fiber basket and with a highly skilled and motivated workforce," said Ralph Boettger, CEO, Sappi Limited. "The mill adds to Sappi's flexibility in serving its global customer base and has, from startup, produced excellent quality product. Cloquet's paper and now dissolving pulp capabilities are central to the ongoing success of Sappi in North America."
The company now has the capability to produce specialized cellulose on two continents including its South Africa expansion at the Sappi Ngodwana Mill and its Saiccor Mill in KwaZulu-Natal. With the Cloquet conversion now complete, the mill's specialized cellulose production is 330,000 metric tpy.
"For a capital project of this magnitude and complexity, we are very pleased with its successful completion," said Rick Dwyer, managing director, Cloquet, SFPNA. "It is with great pride that we are celebrating the hard work of our employees and contractors and their role in helping Sappi bring state-of-the-art innovation to the Cloquet Mill as we continue to invest in North American manufacturing."
At peak construction, more than 1,100 workers were employed on the project with 41 different contractors totaling more than 550,000 man hours. In the first two weeks of the startup curve, average production was between 500 and 600 tons to more than 1,000 tons produced per day. Product output has exceeded quality targets and the production capacity is currently fully-secured to fulfill customer orders, the company said.
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