Hood Container to Invest $50 Million in Upgrade Projects at St. Francisville Paper Mill in Louisiana
The project at the St. Francisville mill will increase the efficiency of the mill’s pulp refining operation through the installation of two digester blow line refiners.
June 13, 2020 (Excerts from a news story on KADN/KLAF News 15) - Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards and Senior Vice President Wayne Morgan of Hood Container of Louisiana LLC announced the company’s St. Francisville paper mill in Louisiana will move forward with a $50 million efficiency upgrade and capacity expansion project. Hood Container acquired the 61-year-old former Crown Zellerbach and Tembec mill in 2015. Since the acquisition, Hood has committed more than $100 million in capital investments to upgrade the facilities. “I am pleased to announce the next step in the re-purposing of the St. Francisville Mill,” said Senior Vice President Wayne Morgan of Hood Container’s Mill Division. “Hood Container thanks the good people of West Feliciana Parish and the State of Louisiana for continuing to support our business and employees during this period of growth in our company.” The project will increase the efficiency of the mill's pulp refining operation through the installation of two digester blow line refiners. The expansion also will include installation of a secondary headbox and additional dryer cans, which will allow increased paper production with better paper quality. Louisiana Economic Development began discussions about the potential expansion with Hood Container of Louisiana in May 2019. To secure the project, the State of Louisiana offered the company a competitive incentive package that includes a $200,000 Modernization Tax Credit, which will be allocated in equal amounts over a five-year period. Hood Container also is expected to utilize the state’s Industrial Tax Exemption Program. In addition to linerboard, the St. Francisville mill also produces kraft paper. SOURCE: KADN/KLAF News 15 |