Brewton Paper Mill Announces Completion of $400 Million Upgrades

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Georgia-Pacific, on Saturday May 20, has announced successful completion of an energy improvement project at its Brewton mill. The company had spent around $388 million towards modernizing and streamlining the mix of equipment in the mill’s recovery boiler system. The construction works at the plant in connection with the upgrade had lasted for almost two years.

The celebration ceremony was attended by Brewton mill employees and their families, apart from special guests, local and state officials. Sources indicate that around 700 people attended the function. Those who spoke on the occasion included Georgia-Pacific Brewton mill Vice President and General Manager Jeff Joyce, Brewton Mayor Yank Lovelace, Sr., Georgia-Pacific President and CEO Christian Fischer and Alabama Governor Kay Ivey.

Christian Fischer appreciated the hard work and dedication of Breton employees. The multi-million dollar investment is a proof of company’s continued commitment to implement timely improvements to meet the long term needs of customers, said Fischer. The investment has empowered the mill to position itself to continued success, he added. Jeff Joyce noted that hard work and commitment of Brewton employees has made the project a big success. He assured that more projects will be planned for the mill’s long-term growth.

According to Governor Kay Ivey, the company’s total investment of $438 million is a testament of the state’s openness to businesses. It further reiterates Alabama’s position as one among the greatest places to live and work. The state would continue its efforts to attract new investments, along with continuing to support existing ones, Ivey noted. Meantime, Mayor Yank Lovelace, Sr. stated that Brewton community is happy to have the mill. The recently announced investments will ensure that the business will continue to remain as valued business partner for many more years to come.

The company had acquired the Brewton mill from Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. almost a decade back. The mill employs nearly 450 people and is the largest employer in Brewton. The mill mainly produces white-top linerboard and solid bleached carton board.

Georgia-Pacific has made investments of around 1.327 billion in Alabama alone since 2006 in order to acquire new operations and to improve the existing ones. Currently, the company’s Alabama facilities employ 2,300 people directly and more than 8,500 people indirectly. The company pays $644 Million in total combined compensation and benefits. Across the US, the company has invested nearly $8.5 billion. Globally, Georgia-Pacific employs approximately 40,000 people. The company is one of the world's leading manufacturers and distributors of tissue, pulp, paper, toilet and paper towel dispensers, packaging, building products and related chemicals.

Meantime, the company has announced additional investment of $50 million in order to upgrade the paperboard machine at the mill. The work, scheduled to commence late summer this year, is intended to rebuild a part of the machine so as to enhance the mill’s competitiveness by improving the quality of white-top linerboard products produced by the mill.