WestRock has confirmed investment plans for its Florence, South Carolina kraftliner mill that will significantly increase the mill’s efficiency, quality and service levels. The $410 million investment over two years will include installing a 8.4m (330″) state-of-the-art kraftliner machine and related infrastructure that will replace three older, narrow-width paper machines. The company expects the new machine to produce 710,000 tons of kraftliner 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, said the company.
“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, chief executive officer of WestRock. “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 paper 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.
