Glatfelter to Build Airlaid Wipes, Hygiene Products Plant in Arkansas

 

Glatfelter, York, Pa., USA, a producer of specialty paper products, this month announced its intention to purchase the unused Mitsubishi Power Systems facility in Fort Smith, Ark. Glatfelter’s plans are to locate an airlaid materials plant at the facility, to supply products to a variety of customers, including those who support the broader wipes and hygiene markets. The new operation will create up to 83 highly-skilled jobs with a total capital investment of approximately $80 million. The project is subject to the approval of the Fort Smith Board of Directors and closing on the purchase of the former Mitsubishi Power Systems building located in Chaffee Crossing

 

"We are truly excited to partner with the people of Fort Smith and Arkansas because we know that investing here makes great business sense for our company," said Chris Astley, president of Glatfelter’s Advanced Airlaid Materials Business Unit and a SVP of Glatfelter. "Locating here benefits our business in a number of ways. It will enable us to expand our capacity to meet our customers’ growing demand for our advanced airlaid products, provide us with closer proximity to key suppliers and customers, and link us to highly efficient transportation routes across the South. Equally important, it will allow us to tap into the area’s high-quality workforce."

 

The Mitsubishi plant has been dormant for four years. The 200,000-sq. ft. building the company will reuse was built for windmill turbine production and went unused following instability in the wind-power market and uncertainty of continued federal tax subsidies. 

Fort Smith’s workforce, centralized location to raw materials in the form of cellulose-based pulp, as well as distance to its industrial customers, were determining factors in selecting the site, according to Astley. He said at least four other states were in contention.

Astley told Gov. Asa Hutchinson and local leaders with the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce that his company is prepared to create jobs paying about $25 an hour.