Sappi North America, Boston, Mass., USA, a producer and supplier of diversified paper and packaging products, this week announced a $5.94 million capital investment in its Cloquet, Minn., USA, mill to replace the headbox on paper machine No. 12 (PM 12). This investment enabled Sappi to maintain its capacity by adding a state-of-the-art, dilution profiled headbox that produces excellent basis weight profiles. A headbox is an integral part of the paper machine responsible for spreading the pulp fibers evenly to form the sheet.

 

"This investment shows Sappi's unwavering commitment to its graphic papers and packaging customers," said Mark Gardner, president and CEO, Sappi North America. "The new headbox will ensure that we're fulfilling orders to the highest quality standards that Sappi's customers have come to expect. This project will not only improve upon our longstanding history with the graphic papers market, but also support our growing paper-based packaging business."

 

 

This investment follows a $170 million capital investment in 2011 to enable the Cloquet Mill's kraft pulp operations to also produce chemical cellulose used in textile and consumer goods markets. Through this product diversification, along with investments in renewable energy and waste reduction, the mill has stayed profitable and competitive in a challenging market. The Cloquet Mill was recently awarded for its investment in the state of Minnesota from the Minnesota Office of Foreign Direct Investment. The award highlighted the company's contributions to the economic vitality of local communities, and its commitment to keeping Minnesota a world-leading business destination.

The PM 12 headbox project was recently completed in October.

Sappi North America is a market leader in converting wood fiber into superior products that customers demand worldwide. The success of its four diversified businesses–Coated Printing Papers, Specialized Cellulose, Release Papers, and Specialty Packaging–is driven by strong customer relationships, best-in-class people, and advantaged assets, products, and services. Sappi North America is a subsidiary of Sappi Ltd., a global company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with more than 12,000 employees and manufacturing operations on three continents in seven countries and customers in 150-plus countries around the world.