Major Announcements

John Begley, who has been the CEO of Columbia Pulp LLC throughout the local private company's eight-year existence here, announced his retirement effective Sept. 3.

Metsä Group's innovation company Metsä Spring Ltd has made an equity investment in Innomost Ltd, a startup converting forest industry side streams into high-value bioactive products.

Interfor Corp. will reopen an idled sawmill in southwestern Louisiana, creating 170 jobs at the facility.

Amcor plans to invest over $10 million in MSU's School of Packaging - the largest investment in the history of the university's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR), under which the School of Packaging sits.

CompanyBox, the Charlotte-based corrugated packaging company, reported a significant expansion in capacity and nationwide corrugated digital print solutions with the multi-million dollar investment in a second HP C500 press. The purchase adds to its robust suite of digital equipment and further strengthens capabilities for all sizes of business.

International Paper subsidiary Sylvamo has chosen an East Memphis headquarters after being awarded a jobs Payment-In-Lieu-Of-Taxes inventive by the Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis and Shelby County.

After a period of time to ramp up production, the machine is expected to resume full operation in January 2022, allowing Domtar to add 185,000 tons of uncoated freesheet capacity to its manufacturing network.

Truvant, a global provider of high quality, scalable packaging and display solutions, recently opened a new facility in Indianapolis, Indiana. The latest expansion supports the growing Truvant company portfolio and increases its operational footprint to 15 facilities around the world.

Roseburg Forest Products will expand its operations in the southeastern United States with the construction of a high-capacity lumber mill in the town of Weldon, N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper announced the project at a joint news conference with officials representing Roseburg, the state of North Carolina, Halifax County and the Town of Weldon.

The bill passed 63-35 in the Assembly and 20-12 in the Senate. It would allow the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to provide a timber cooperative, which is made up of people throughout the timber industry in the state, a $50 million loan to purchase the Verso Mill in Wisconsin Rapids and a $15 million loan to purchase the Flambeau River Papers Mill in Park Falls.

In 2021, Mercer Celgar is embarking on a capital investment project to upgrade our existing woodroom. This project has a total cost of $31.4 million, of which $4.5 million is funded through Natural Resources Canada's Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program.

Greif, Inc., a global leader in industrial packaging products and services, announced today that Pete Watson will retire as Greif's President and Chief Executive Officer effective February 1, 2022. This announcement concludes a thoughtful and comprehensive, multi-year succession planning process. The Board of Directors has elected Ole Rosgaard to succeed Mr. Watson as President and Chief Executive Officer effective February 1, 2022. Mr. Rosgaard will serve as Chief Operating Officer of the Company until that time.

Green Bay Packaging ceremonially cut the ribbon on its new $500 million mill Thursday, June 17.

Georgia-Pacific broke ground on a state-of-the-art gypsum wallboard production facility near Sweetwater.

Louisiana-Pacific Corp. said it will break ground this week on a $150 million conversion of its mill in New Limerick to turn out the company's flagship siding and trim product.

Reducing carbon dioxide emissions, water protection, and using energy more efficiently are key targets of Kotkamills' strategy. In 2020, significant investments were made to improve the mill's energy efficiency. The aim is to complete the big project to reduce the wastewater treatment plant's load and the mill's carbon dioxide emissions by August 2021. Investment projects stretching also into 2022 have been launched.

Red Leaf Pulp Ltd., developer of a proprietary wheat straw-based pulp mill, announced the Company will locate its initial facility in Regina, Saskatchewan. The Company has secured properties on the west side of the City of Regina and will commence construction of the $350 Million facility in early 2022.

WestRock Company announced the future retirement of Jeff Chalovich, president of Corrugated Packaging and chief commercial officer, after an incredible 23-year career with WestRock. Moving forward, WestRock has also announced an evolution of its commercial and operational leadership structure and team reporting to president and chief executive officer, David B. Sewell.

Correll led Georgia-Pacific and was a philanthropist who left fingerprints around the state. He was called on by mayors, business leaders, and friends for help for a particular reason.

Clearwater Paper announced it's closing the Neenah mill that employs almost 300 people as the company takes a new direction.

Verso Corporation announced that Brian D. Cullen will become its Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective June 16, 2021.

American Eagle Paper Mills announced today Allan Bobb, Machine Room Superintendent, and Colin Symons, Furnish Prep Manager, have become the first employees invited to the ownership team since the Mill reopened in 2003.

Verso Corporation has released a statement saying they believe Tuesday's fire at their idled Wisconsin Rapids mill may have started with a lightning strike.

Huhtamaki, a global key advanced manufacturer of sustainable packaging solutions, is setting up a new manufacturing unit in KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa to serve its existing and new egg packaging customers in the KwaZulu-Natal area with a broad range of locally produced packaging solutions.

The fire broke out at the mill during the evening of May 2. It caused widespread damage to the former mill, leaving the building unstable and causing concerns that it would fully collapse. A few days after the fire, crews began to demolish the building out of safety concerns.