The R12 machine's first roll of paper after weeks of testing and running trials.
Nov. 11, 2026 - ND Paper's Rumford Mill in Maine on Nov. 5 successfully produced the first roll of paper on its R12 paper machine after weeks of testing and running trials.
ND Paper did not specify the grade of paper that was produced and whether or not it had made a decision to restart the machine.
R12 had been idled for over two years due to unfavorable market conditions.
In 2020, ND Paper announced that its Rumford Division would be further expanding into packaging grades. A portion of the comprehensive project involved expanding the R12 machine's capabilities towards the production of specialty packaging grades such as natural kraft liner and unbleached packaging grades. Prior to project, R12 was built to produce coated and uncoated freesheet.
R12 is now a step closer to returning to service.
The Rumford mill is an integrated production site with the capacity to produce 120,000 tons per year (tpy) of northern bleached hardwood kraft pulp, 215,000 tpy of packaging paper, and 300,000 tpy of coated and uncoated freesheet. The mill has 1 pulp dryer and 3 paper machines (R10, R12, R15) and about 530 full-time employees.
SOURCE: ND Paper (Facebook page) and website