Nov. 22, 2017 – WestRock Company, a provider of differentiated paper and packaging solutions, has announced a planned investment in its Florence, S.C., kraft linerboard mill with the goal to increase its efficiency, quality and service levels.
The US$410-million investment over two years will include installing a 330-inch kraft linerboard machine and related infrastructure to replace three older, narrow-width paper machines. The company expects the new machine to produce 710,000 tonnes of kraft linerboard annually. In addition, the company plans to invest approximately $60 million over the next five years to support the new machine and other mill projects.
When coupled with the recently completed modern woodyard, the Florence mill will become one of the lowest cost kraft linerboard mills in North America, WestRock Company says.
“This investment will make our Florence mill a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, sustaining good manufacturing jobs and promoting the long-term success of the mill,” said Steve Voorhees, WestRock CEO. “The support of the Florence County Economic Development Partnership and the South Carolina Department of Commerce helped make this investment possible and is greatly appreciated. We look forward to contributing to the Florence community for many years to come.”
The new linerboard machine will be housed in a building adjacent to the existing complex, and the company expects production on the new linerboard machine and the shutdown of the three existing machines to occur in the first half of calendar 2020.
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