Displaying items by tag: Domtar Corporation

Domtar Corporation has just announced that it will permanently shut down two of its paper machines.

The closures will take place at the Ashdown, Arkansas pulp and paper mill, and the Port Huron, Michigan paper mill. These measures will reduce the Company’s annual uncoated freesheet paper capacity by approximately 204,000 short tons, and will result in a workforce reduction of approximately 100 employees. The closure of the Ashdown paper machine will be effective immediately and the closure of the Port Huron machine by mid-November.

Domtar Logo 0 0“I wish to sincerely thank colleagues impacted by the closures and recognize their hard work and contribution to Domtar over many years. As difficult as these actions are, we believe they are necessary in light of the declining market for uncoated freesheet paper. We will be working closely with our customers to assure they continue to receive the high quality products and exceptional service they have come to expect from us,” said John D. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer of Domtar.

The Ashdown mill will continue to operate one paper machine with an annual uncoated freesheet paper production capacity of 200,000 short tons and employ approximately 725 people. In addition, the mill operates one of the world’s largest fluff pulp machines, with the flexibility to produce softwood pulp depending on market conditions. As a result of the closure of the paper machine, the mill will produce an incremental 70,000 ADMT of softwood and fluff pulp, which will ramp up over the next 12 months.

The Port Huron mill will continue to produce a wide variety of technical and specialty papers for a broad range of customers, utilizing three machines with a total annual production capacity of 95,000 short tons. Following the closure, the mill will employ approximately 212 people.

“The closure of the two paper machines will enable us to right-size our paper production capacity with our customer demand. This proactive measure is necessary due to increased imports and declining paper demand,” added Williams.

 About Domtar 
Domtar is a leading provider of a wide variety of fiber-based products including communication, specialty and packaging papers, market pulp and absorbent hygiene products. With approximately 10,000 employees serving more than 50 countries around the world, Domtar is driven by a commitment to turn sustainable wood fiber into useful products that people rely on every day. Domtar’s annual sales are approximately $5.5 billion, and its common stock is traded on the New York and Toronto Stock Exchanges. Domtar’s principal executive office is in Fort Mill, South Carolina. To learn more, visit www.domtar.com.
 

Published in North American News
Tagged under

Domtar Corporation have just announced Marie Cyr as manager of the company’s mill in Dryden, Ontario, effective August 1, 2019. Cyr succeeds Jim Blight, who will retire in August.

Domtar Logo 0 0Since December 2013, Marie has served as the Windsor Mill's pulp mill manager and superintendent, responsible for developing the pulp mill's strategy and leading its manufacturing operations. Marie is an inspirational leader with experience working with large teams in operations, maintenance and engineering. She joined the Windsor Mill in 1995 as a maintenance engineer and project manager, and has held roles of increasing responsibility in maintenance and planning in the Windsor Mill's pulp and converting operations.

Marie is a strong advocate for using the continuous improvement tools to foster a culture of learning and growth. She also has a unique ability to quickly bring teams together and unify them toward accomplishing an objective. We are confident her leadership will help the Dryden Mill continue to be successful.

About Domtar
Domtar is a leading provider of a wide variety of fiber-based products including communication, specialty and packaging papers, market pulp and absorbent hygiene products. With approximately 10,000 employees serving more than 50 countries around the world, Domtar is driven by a commitment to turn sustainable wood fiber into useful products that people rely on every day. Domtar’s annual sales are approximately $5.5 billion, and its common stock is traded on the New York and Toronto Stock Exchanges. Domtar’s principal executive office is in Fort Mill, South Carolina. To learn more, visit www.domtar.com.

Published in Canadian News
Tagged under

Old Point Elementary students and officers from York County Sheriff’s Department and Rock Hill Police exchanged handwritten letters for six months. Domtar employees host event for them to meet face-to-face for the first time.

dom logoDomtar Corporation announced that employee volunteers from the company’s converting facility in Rock Hill, SC visited Old Pointe Elementary School to host a PaperPal™ event for Fifth Grade students and local York County Sheriff’s Department and Rock Hill Police officers. The PaperPal program brings generations together through handwritten letters. The officers and students exchanged letters for six months and met in person for the first time today. Research shows that handwriting has tremendous neurological benefits for the developing minds of young children, and it is an effective way to communicate on a more emotional level. Domtar makes a wide variety of every day products from sustainable wood fiber, and it is one of the world’s largest producers of uncoated freesheet papers, as well as a complete line of absorbent hygiene solutions. The company’s Rock Hill converting facility employs 50 people in the local community.

“Authentic handwriting is not just practice for our students, its how we can relate to and connect with the real world”

“Authentic handwriting is not just practice for our students, its how we can relate to and connect with the real world,” said Bill Cook, superintendent of Rock Hill Schools. “Our partnership with Domtar has been a great way to connect our students to the larger community. We are grateful for partners like Domtar who demonstrate through action that we are on one team with one mission for one Rock Hill.”

“The PaperPal program was a great way for our officers to meet students on a personal level and let them know that we care and we’re here to protect them,” said Kevin R. Tolson, York county sheriff.

Domtar started the PaperPal program in 2015 with a school and retirement community in Van Nuys, Calif. The idea, chronicled in a short video, was so successful that the groups wanted to continue writing letters even after the initial two-month program officially ended.

“Besides the educational and cognitive benefits of PaperPal, we are excited to see how this program sparks smiles and hugs for both children and adults,” said Michelle Osborne, Domtar Rock Hill’s administrative coordinator.

To understand more about the benefits of handwriting for different generations, consider the research and expert opinions cited below:

  • Experts at Indiana University conducted brain scans on pre-literate children to determine whether printing letters, tracing them or typing is the most effective method in the learning process. The children tried each method, and then received a functional MRI scan in a device designed to look like a spaceship. The results? If children wrote by hand, the experts saw neural activity in three areas of the brain that was far more enhanced. These areas get activated in adults when they read and write.
  • A study in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience shows how hand-writing can help adults learn new symbols – anything from music notes to Mandarin. Researchers found that if adults wrote the symbols, there was a stronger, longer-lasting recognition.
  • Good handwriting can play a role in classroom performance. It can take a generic classroom test score from the 50th percentile to the 84th percentile, while bad penmanship could tank it to the 16th, said an education professor at Vanderbilt University.
  • Handwriting can be a useful cognitive exercise for baby boomers trying to keep their minds sharp as they grow older, according to a neuroscientist at Duke University.
  • Children in grades two, four and six wrote more words, faster, and expressed more ideas when writing essays by hand instead of with a keyboard, according to a study by a University of Washington professor of educational psychology.

About Domtar

Domtar is a leading provider of a wide variety of fiber-based products including communication, specialty and packaging papers, market pulp and absorbent hygiene products. With approximately 10,000 employees serving more than 50 countries around the world, Domtar is driven by a commitment to turn sustainable wood fiber into useful products that people rely on every day. Domtar’s annual sales are approximately $5.5 billion, and its common stock is traded on the New York and Toronto Stock Exchanges. Domtar’s principal executive office is in Fort Mill, South Carolina. To learn more, visit www.domtar.com.

Published in North American News
Tagged under

Domtar Corporation has just announced leadership transitions for two fluff pulp producing mills, in Plymouth, North Carolina and Ashdown, Arkansas. Both mills are getting new, exceptionally qualified leaders as 40-year pulp and paper industry veteran, Bob Grygotis, prepares to retire as the General Manager at Ashdown on Sept. 1.

dom logoAllan Bohn, manager of Domtar's Plymouth Mill, will move to Ashdown, replacing Gryotis. Everick Spence, who currently works in the Fort Mill headquarters office as director of Continuous Improvement, is being promoted to replace Bohn as Plymouth Mill manager. Both Bohn and Spence will report to Steve Makris, Pulp business vice president, effective Sept. 1.

“It is hard to say goodbye to a leader who is so highly regarded and brings so much experience to the operation of Ashdown, our largest mill. However, after more than 40 years in the pulp and paper industry, Bob deserves the opportunity to return with his family to their home in Kingsport, Tennessee,” said Domtar CEO and President, John D. Williams.

“We have a deep bench of proven manufacturing leaders, so we are well equipped to keep the Ashdown and Plymouth mills competitive in their respective markets today, and prepared to compete in changing markets tomorrow.”

President of Domtar’s Pulp & Paper division, Mike Garcia, is charging Allan with continuing Grygotis' success at ramping up fluff pulp production at the Ashdown Mill and getting the product qualified with customers.

According to Garcia, operations at the Plymouth mill will not miss a beat when Bohn heads to Ashdown, since Spence will be replacing Bohn.

“Everick Spence is going to do a great job as the new General Manager at Plymouth,” Garcia said. “He is both passionate and practical in his approach to driving continuous improvement in manufacturing operations. And he brings an interesting breadth of manufacturing experience to the table, which helps us look at issues in a new light.”

Source: Domtar Corporation Domtar Corporation

Published in North American News
Tagged under

Domtar’s Biomaterials team and research partners have been focusing time and resources on lignin development — specifically, developing lignin-based materials that could eventually serve as sustainable and biodegradable alternatives to petroleum and other fossil fuel–based products.

We recently took another step forward in lignin development and the process of commercializing lignin-based applications by investing in Prisma Renewable Composites, which is developing advanced materials from lignin and other natural resources. With this investment, we will help commercialize the process of using lignin to make engineered plastic compounds, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and other high-value applications.

“We’re pleased to have the opportunity to partner with an industry-leading renewable composite company,” says Mark DeAndrea, Domtar’s vice president of Biomaterials. “This investment leverages Prisma’s scientific research capabilities and unique product development strategy with Domtar’s commercialization and lignin production expertise.”

2018 08 06 100044

Lignin Development Gains Momentum

Lignin, the natural glue that holds wood fibers together, is a byproduct of the kraft pulping process. Traditionally, lignin has been burned to provide energy to a pulp and paper mill. However, it also has the potential for use in a wide range of industrial applications as a sustainable and biodegradable alternative to petroleum and other fossil fuels.

Lignin development and the use of lignin as a biomaterial has gained momentum in the past few years, beginning with our installation of a commercial-scale lignin separation plant in Plymouth, North Carolina, in 2013. Today, we use state-of-the-art extruding equipment to deliver commercial-grade lignin in dried, compounded and modified lignin granules/pellets, as well as lignin-polymer blends.

We also recently installed a demonstration plant at a mill in Ontario to showcase lignin pellets as a potential bioalternative to plastic, chemicals and other industrial products. This project has garnered interest from several industries, as well as support from provincial and federal governments, specifically through Natural Resources Canada’s Investments in Forest Industry Transformation program.

We’re learning more in the lab every day, and we hope to expand our research to understand the full potential, capabilities and commercial opportunities for lignin-based graphene and lignin-based carbon fiber.

“Innovation is core to Domtar Biomaterials’ growth strategy,” DeAndrea says. “Domtar Biomaterials is a bridge between science and commercialization, and we’re very excited by the numerous opportunities we see in lignin.”

Published in European News
Tagged under

Domtar Corporation (NYSE: UFS) (TSX: UFS) has just announced it has acquired a majority interest in Prisma Renewable Composites, LLC, a company focused on developing advanced materials from lignin and other natural resources.

With its investment, Domtar will help commercialize the process of using lignin to make engineered plastic compounds such as Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and other high-value fiber and lignin applications.

dom logo"Innovation is core to Domtar Biomaterials' growth strategy," said Domtar Biomaterials vice president, Mark DeAndrea. "We're pleased to have the opportunity to partner with an industry leading renewable composite company. Domtar Biomaterials is a bridge between science and commercialization. This investment leverages Prisma's scientific research capabilities and unique product development strategy with Domtar's commercialization and lignin production expertise."

"We are excited about this partnership with Domtar," Prisma CEO Adam McCal said. "We believe their commercialization plans and capabilities give Prisma an incredible advantage in establishing a robust supply chain from lignin to the final material production."

Lignin – the natural glue that holds wood fibers together – is a byproduct of the Kraft pulping process that has traditionally been burned to provide energy to a mill. However, it also has the potential to be used in a wide range of industrial applications as a sustainable and bio-degradable alternative to petroleum and other fossil fuels. Domtar is a leader in lignin separation and the development of lignin-based materials. The company recently installed a demonstration plant in Ontario, Canada, to show how lignin pellets can potentially be used as a bio-alternative to plastic, chemicals and other petroleum-based products.

 

Published in North American News
Tagged under

Millions of fans of Chip and Joanna Gaines, of Magnolia Homes and HGTV’s Fixer Upper fame, are getting a taste of quality from Domtar’s Rothschild Mill this year. That’s because Joanna Gaines’ new cookbook, “Magnolia Table: A Collection of Recipes for Gathering,” was printed on 80-lb. Lynx® paper made at Rothschild Mill.

The book, published by HarperCollins, includes personal stories and homestyle recipes of family favorites and classic comfort food from the couple’s new restaurant in Waco, Texas. It has received glowing reviews from lovers of all the Magnolia Homes brand and was a New York Times No. 1 bestseller.

2018 07 02 223838

Our Rothschild Mill colleagues also received high marks from the publisher; Domtar has worked with HarperCollins for more than 20 years. It’s rewarding to know that our customers and partners value our high-quality Lynx paper and excellent customer service.

When the book’s paper run began, Rothschild Mill Manager Dave Faucett and key team members made the 10-hour drive from Rothschild to HarperCollins’ printer in Willard, Ohio, to discuss the quality of the Lynx paper rolls and the project’s specifications.

While there, the group met Tracey Menzies, HarperCollins’ vice president of creative operations and production, who was at the facility to inspect print quality. They had an opportunity to talk about Domtar’s history, values, capabilities and commitment to sustainability. Faucett also emphasized Domtar’s excellent customer service and attention to product quality.

Menzies was impressed, both with Lynx paper and with what she learned in the conversation. The interaction and the successful project prompted her to write a thank-you note to the mill. She also included several copies of the finished cookbook.

Joanna Gaines’ next book, “Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave,” also will be printed on Lynx paper made at Rothschild Mill. It will include advice on designing spaces, ideas for every room in the house and photos from inside the Gaines’ family farmhouse. Publication is set for November 2018.

Published in North American News
Tagged under

When people think of paper manufacturing, the first natural resource that comes to mind is probably trees. But water plays an equally important role in our industry. That’s why sustainable water management is one of our top priorities.

The location of our facilities shows how important water is to our manufacturing process. We’ve built our mills near abundant water supplies, such as the shores of rivers, to draw water for our operations. Managing these natural resources is important to us and to the communities in which we live.

Water Use at Domtar

In 2017, our pulp and paper mills used enough water to fill 164,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. But because of our extensive water recycling loops, we can reuse that water an average of 10 times in the mill before we treat it one final time in our onsite wastewater treatment plants. Of the water we bring into our mills, about 90 percent is returned to its original source. The other 10 percent evaporates or becomes part of our products and byproducts.

The water we do use — 94 percent of which comes from surface-water sources such as lakes and rivers — does a lot of work. It’s used to wash and transport pulp, dilute and prepare process chemicals, generate steam and electricity, carry energy and raw materials throughout the mill, and clean and cool equipment.

2018 07 02 081546

Each of our mills has a unique water footprint. Mill age, the kind of equipment we use and the types of pulp and paper products we produce are the primary drivers of how much water we use.

For example, specialty papers, such as medical paper, require more water to produce than everyday copy paper. That’s because specialty papers are generally manufactured using shorter runs with more grade changes. They also have more stringent quality requirements, such as FDA requirements for food packaging, which can limit opportunities to reuse water.

A Focus on Sustainable Water Management

Some of our mills, first built in the late 1800s, did not include water conservation features in their original design. But as we’ve upgraded them and built new mills, we’ve placed special emphasis on sustainable water management.

We’re doing our part to conserve water. Our mills have reduced total water use by 4 percent since 2013. That means we can now avoid using enough water to fill 6,560 Olympic-sized swimming pools each year.

“Water is a local resource best managed with site-specific strategies,” says Paige Goff, Domtar’s vice president of sustainability. By understanding the unique challenges and opportunities where we operate, we can manage water usage in a way that helps us be better stewards of this shared resource, making our business and communities more sustainable.

As in many other parts of nature, sustainable water management and sustainable forestry work hand in hand. Forests play a critical role in protecting and conserving valuable water resources by recharging ground water supplies, buffering and absorbing storm water surges, and cleaning and protecting the lakes and rivers our mills and local communities depend on. We support the protection of the forested landscapes, forest wetlands and watersheds from which we source forest and water resources.

We also recognize that we literally are connected to our neighbors through the rivers and lakes that supply our water. As we continue to innovate, we are also working to improve water quality and water management so that we can serve as better stewards of these shared resources. Learn more by reading our 2017 Sustainability Report.

Published in European News
Tagged under

Our corporate sustainability commitment ensures that we manage our planet’s precious natural resources in a responsible manner. That commitment also helps attract new talent as millennials seek out jobs that help them make a difference.

The job market in the United States is facing a sea change, with an estimated 10,000 baby boomers retiring each day. That’s nearly 4 million people stepping out of the workforce every year, creating personnel gaps in a wide range of industries.

2017 12 08 083020

Our company is feeling the effects of this so-called silver tsunami. Of our nearly 10,000 employees, almost 47 percent are at, or approaching, retirement age, according to our 2017 Sustainability Report. To sustain our current productivity levels and to encourage future growth, we must not only recruit the next generation of workers but also ensure the transfer of valuable knowledge from one generation to the next.

Our strong sustainability commitment gives us an edge as we look to rebuild our ranks from among the many millennials entering or already actively engaged in the workforce.

“The sustainability work Domtar does is, without question, the main reason young employees are interested in talking to us about career opportunities,” said Kimberly Riley, Domtar’s college recruitment coordinator. “What we find is that a lot of millennials watched their family members lose jobs and struggle with economic uncertainty. It’s put a different mentality inside them. Millennials are looking for companies that are stable and environmentally and socially responsible. This is where Domtar has the competitive advantage.”

The Millennial Boom

Millennials, defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as those born roughly between 1982 and 1998, became the largest generation in the American workforce in 2015, according to the Pew Research Center.

Sustainability is a major motivator for this large and influential group when it comes to seeking employment. According to a study by Cone Communications, 76 percent of millennials consider a company’s social and environmental commitments when deciding where to work (compared to a U.S. average of 58 percent). Additionally, 75 percent of millennials say they would take a pay cut to work for a company with a strong commitment to the environment (compared to a U.S. average of 55 percent). But working for an environmentally aware company is not enough; 89 percent of millennials said they want to be active participants in helping their company improve sustainability practices (compared to a U.S. average of 77 percent).

Working Smart for the Long Term

That’s where our focus on caring for people and communities, our dedication to efficient manufacturing and our commitment to responsible sourcing and logistics pay off. Our sustainability commitment is integrated into every corner of our business. Our 2017 Sustainability Report, “Working Smart for the Long Term,” highlights many recent accomplishments, including:

  • 4,000+ hours contributed by employees at company-sponsored community events in 2016
  • 33 percent reduction in the amount of waste pulp and paper mills sent to landfills since 2013
  • 75 percent renewable energy used in our mills in 2016
  • 13 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions at mills since 2010

Our sustainability report helps communicate our company priorities, challenges and performance, and it provides context for our work — a fact appreciated by millennials as a generation of future influencers.

“Most of the college students we talk to home in on the sustainability of our company,” said Erin Boswell, a talent acquisition partner for Domtar. “But we are not resting on our laurels. The market is very competitive, so we’re working to build stronger relationships with universities and students.”

Sustainability Commitment Resonates with Job Seekers

We participate in college job fairs while also partnering with universities to develop industry-specific curriculum. We also offer scholarships, and we are committed to hiring interns and providing them with hands-on industry experience. Plus, we create personalized messaging aimed at the millennial audience. Along with a corporate video produced to accompany the 2017 Sustainability Report, we created a video starring our summer college interns, who spoke about what they liked about our sustainability commitment.

“Our younger hires have a tremendous advantage,” said Riley. “They are coming in at a time when they can still learn from the vast knowledge of baby boomer employees. Then they can take that experience, put their stamp on it and move up faster within the company. It’s a great time to be a millennial at work.”

To learn more about our sustainability commitment and to see one way we are reaching out to millennials, watch “Future Influencers Weigh In on Sustainability Report.”

Published in North American News
Tagged under

Domtar is proud to inaugurate its second generating unit with a power output of 18 MW at its Windsor (Quebec) Mill.

dom logoThe start-up of its second generating unit, built for $36 million, will improve the energy efficiency of the mill produced from renewable resources while reducing production costs.

In 2001, the Domtar Windsor Mill inaugurated its first 32 MW generating unit. "With the addition of its second generating unit, the Windsor Mill will become one of the major producers of renewable energy in the Eastern Townships. Our total production capacity will reach nearly 50 MW and will allow us to feed the equivalent of the annual energy consumption of 12,800 single-family dwellings. By using forest biomass as a fuel to produce green energy, Domtar demonstrates its commitment to innovation and sustainable development," declared Éric Ashby, General Manager of Domtar's Windsor Mill.

This project, spanning more than a year, is part of the company's sustainable vision and will contribute to the development of the forestry sector and the management of forests in the Eastern Townships.

About Domtar
Domtar is a leading provider of a wide variety of fiber-based products including communication, specialty and packaging papers, market pulp and absorbent hygiene products. With approximately 10,000 employees serving more than 50 countries around the world, Domtar is driven by a commitment to turn sustainable wood fiber into useful products that people rely on every day. Domtar's annual sales are approximately $5.1 billion, and its common stock is traded on the New York and Toronto Stock Exchanges. Domtar's principal executive office is in Fort Mill, South Carolina. To learn more, visit www.domtar.com

Source: Domtar

Published in Canadian News
Tagged under
Page 2 of 8