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On the winning side: New machine pushes Domtar mill to new spot on world stage
The “fiber of the future” is being manufactured at the Domtar Ashdown mill, and the A1 fluff pulp machine, dedicated Thursday, makes the Ashdown mill the world’s third-largest fluff pulp producer, according to Domtar officials.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday celebrated the startup of a newly converted fluff pulp machine. The conversion is the largest capital project in the company’s history. The fluff pulp produced at the mill will be used to make absorbent hygiene products, including baby diapers and incontinence products, sold around the world, said Tammy Waters, manager of the media relations and communications and government relations.
The investment was $160 million.
Mike Garcia, the president of pulp and paper manufacturing for Domtar, praised the team who converted the machine.
The new machine will show America that Ashdown and Domtar are “winning” economically, he said.
“Talk about America not winning. I sat down with customers in Japan and China, and they are looking forward to buying A1 fluff pulp. Ashdown and Domtar are winning, and the people of Arkansas are winning,” Garcia said.
The attitude of the team is reflected in the slogans.
“Their slogan was ‘One Team, One Mission, One Mill, The Fiber of Our Future.’ Their commitment and continuous efforts helped not only construct a stellar piece of equipment; it also sets up the Ashdown mill and its employees for future success in various markets. We’re very appreciative of the work put forth by so many individuals. The team genuinely shared our vision for creating a world-class fluff pulp operation that is truly the future fiber for Ashdown,” Garcia said.
“Looking ahead, we expected Ashdown to thrive and be a key component to Domtar’s growth in the absorbent hygiene market. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made with this installment and we’re proud to be a part of the Ashdown community,” he said.
Housing the machine in Ashdown will physically benefit the company, Garcia said.
“There are many benefits to housing this machine in Ashdown, one being its southwest location in the United States. As we recently witnessed the damaging effects of Hurricane Matthew along the East Coast, the Ashdown mill will provide geographic diversity that gives us the ability to redirect orders and aid other mills that may incur weather conditions or natural disasters. This geographic diversity is a competitive advantage for Domtar and a very appealing aspect for customers who expect deliveries without interruption,” Garcia said.
The Ashdown mill will provide fluff pulp to North America, including Mexico. It will also deliver products to international customers as far away as Latin America and Europe. Domtar also has markets in Japan and China.
The new machine secures the future, said Bob Grygotis, mill manager for the Ashdown mill.
“I’m very proud of our mill employees for working safely and staying focused throughout the entire project. This investment will provide a bright future,” Grygotis said.
Lewis Fix, Domtar’s vice president of pulp sales, also praised the problem solving ability of the A1 fluff pulp team.
He said the machine is complex and the conversion required “creative problem solving.”
“We’re not so automated because humans are still needed in the problem solving,” Fix said.
“This is the evolution for the mill and survival,” he said.
