Columbia Pulp (Dayton, Wash., USA) announced Wednesday (Aug. 15, 2018) that the company has completed construction on its 18,000 sq ft pilot plant in Pomeroy, Wash. While construction is still underway for North America’s first tree-free pulp mill outside of neighboring Starbuck, Washington, this pilot plant will replicate Columbia Pulp’s innovative pulp-making process on a smaller scale.

Columbia Pulp expects the pilot plant to produce 10 short tons of pulp per day, and to be fully operational by September.

"Our Pomeroy pilot plant will employ up to eight full-time employees, and provide them the opportunity to learn the manufacturing process and hone their skills on a smaller scale ahead of the Lyons Ferry Pulp Plant opening," said Columbia Pulp CEO John Begley. "This pilot plant allows us the opportunity to provide prospective customers with product samples comparable to what they can purchase from the full-scale mill."

Ultimately, the first-of-its-kind Lyons Ferry Pulp Plant is expected to provide 90 jobs in the communities of Dayton, Starbuck and surrounding areas while eliminating the need to burn 230,000 tons of straw waste annually. The Lyons Ferry Pulp Plant is planned to produce 400 tons of pulp per day in its 140,000 sq ft facility. Along with producing pulp for use in papermaking, the mill will produce environmentally friendly biopolymers, which can be used on roads, in animal feed, and more.

 

Once construction is completed on the Lyons Ferry mill, the pilot plant will remain open to produce smaller client orders.

Columbia Pulp operates a Pilot Facility in Pomeroy, Wash. and reported it is finishing construction on a state-of-the-art industrial scale mill in Starbuck, Wash. Both facilities convert wheat straw and seed alfalfa into pulp and biopolymers, used in the manufacture of sustainable, tree-free paper and packing products, as well as numerous specialty chemical applications.