Neenah Paper to Construct Specialty Papers Plant in Appleton

According to a report by the Post Crescent, Fox Cities, Wis. USA, Neenah Paper Inc., plans to construct a new plant mill in Appleton, Wis.’s industrial flats to produce specialty filter papers. The expansion of the company's Appleton Mill operations, 430 E. South Island St., would buck the trend of paper mill closings and consolidations that has characterized the paper industry in the past 20 years.

Howard Piotrowski, manager of Neenah Paper's Appleton and Neenah mills, described the project as "exciting and compelling," adding that "for us to be vibrant and looking at major investment, not only in the Appleton Mill, but in the Valley, it's just welcome. This will support the Fox Valley, which is basically a paper industry institution." Piotrowski declined to disclose the estimated cost of the project.

The 44,000-sq. ft. plant would be built on a peninsula of vacant land south of the Fox River and north of a power canal off South Vulcan Street. The property is part of Neenah Paper's Appleton Mill, which encompasses 10.5 acres.

The expansion would include manufacturing space, utility rooms, offices, a covered tank farm for methanol and resin storage, a covered delivery area, a truck dock and parking. The operation would use a proprietary system, according to documents filed with Appleton planners.

"We would actually make the base paper within the Appleton Mill and then that paper would be transferred to where this new building would be," Piotrowski said. "We would put some chemical technology into it to create the end product."

Piotrowski said if the permitting process goes as planned, construction could begin in May or June and be completed within two years.

The City Planning Commission unanimously approved a special-use permit for the new plant earlier this week. The Common Council will considered the permit Wednesday.

"When we have businesses expanding, that's always good news for everyone," said Karen Harkness, Appleton's community and economic development director.

The Appleton Mill operates 24 hr. a day, five to seven days a week, and employs 100 people on three shifts. The new facility also would operate around the clock and could result in an additional 20 jobs. Harkness said the expansion would not affect Appleton's North Island Trail. "That trail will remain there," she said. "It's a public trail. There's a fence that keeps people on the trail and out of the property that Neenah Paper owns.