Packaging and paper products manufacturer Boise has announced plans to invest $111m in the conversion of the company’s newsprint machine at DeRidder Paper Mill in the US.
The reconfiguration of the former newsprint machine will allow the company to produce lightweight linerboard and corrugated material.
As part of the project, the US-based company also plans to install an old corrugated container (OCC) pulping facility at the mill.
Boise president and chief executive officer Alexander Toeldte said the company is targeting a mid-2014 start-up for the completed project.
"The investment adds approximately 270,000 tons of lightweight containerboard capacity to our system and allows us to optimize the product mix on our current linerboard machine, increasing the mill's overall containerboard output by approximately 300,000 tons," Toeldte said.
In a bid to improve the cost competitiveness of its Paper business, the company decided to close two paper machines and an off-machine coater at its International Falls mill.
Expected to occur no later than fourth quarter 2013, the closures will reduce Boise's annual uncoated freesheet capacity by about 115,000t, or 9%, and enable it to focus its efforts on key products and machines.
